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Special  Bulletin  No.  7 

Issued  by  the 

North  Carolina  State  Board  of  Charities  and  Public  Welfare 

kate  burr  johnson,  commissioner 

raleigh.  n.  c. 

1926 


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North  Carolina 
State  Board  of  Charities  and  PubHc  Welfare 


HANDBOOK  ON 
MOTHERS'  AID 


Special  Bulletin  No.  7 

Issued  by  the 

North  Carolina  State  Board  of  Charities  and  Public  Welfare 

KATE  burr  JOHNSON,  COMMISSIONER 
RALEIGH.  N.  C. 

1926 


GOAL 


"Our  goal  is  the  development  of  the  personality 
and  character  of  the  children  under  our  care;  we 
believe  that  the  family  is  the  natural  cradle 
wherein  the  adequate  growth  of  human  beings  may 
be  best  fulfilled ;  and  we  discover  that  development 
within  the  framework  of  the  family  is  dependent 
upon  the  proper  functioning  of  the  growing  child 
in  relation  to  six  fundamental  factors:  health, 
education,  work,  recreation,  worship,  and  beauty. 
Each  of  the  elements  of  normal  living  must  corre- 
late in  some  kind  of  rythmic  fashion  to  render  life 
harmonious  and  significant;  and  it  is  our  duty  to 
aid  these  children  to  function  wholesomely  on  all 
six  planes,  for  if  one  of  these  six  elements  be  miss- 
ing, the  child's  future  will  be  crippled  and  dis- 
torted." 

Mary  F.  Bogue, 

Director  Mothers'  Assistance  Fund, 

Harrishurg,  Penn. 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS 


PAGE 

Foreword 4 

I.  The  Statutes  6 

II.  The  Mothers'  Aid  Law 8 

III.  Administration 10 

IV.  Investigation    13 

Y.  Application  Blanl^  and  Typical  History 16 

Summaries  of  Actual  Cases  Showing  Different  Types  of  Constructive 

Work    25 

\I.  Records    29 

VII.  Financial  Report 33 

VIII.  Grants  to  Mothers 35 

Schedule   for    Estimating   Family    Budgets    in    Mothers'    Assistance 

Cases    38 

IX.  Summary  of  206  Cases  of  Mothers'  Aid 43 

Appendix  60 

X.  Child  Labor  Laws 61 


FOREWORD 

TMs  Handbook,  it  is  hoped,  will  find  a  place  on  the  desk  of  every 
county  superintendent  of  welfare  administering  Mothers'  Aid.  Hereto- 
fore this  information  has  been  sent  out  in  form  letters  which  were  all 
too  easily  mislaid,  or  lost,  and  much  time  and  postage  has  been  need- 
lessly wasted  because  of  applications  sent  in  only  partially  filled  out  and 
before  the  applicants  had  been  fully  investigated. 

It  is  believed  that  if  every  superintendent  of  welfare  and  member  of 
a  county  board  of  welfare  will  carefully  study  this  little  handbook  that 
much  time  and  touble  will  be  saved  the  applicant,  the  county  officials, 
and  the  State  Director. 

Special  thanks  are  due  Mr.  George  Lawrence,  of  the  School  of  Public 
Welfare  at  Chapel  Hill,  for  his  study  of  two  hundred  cases,  and  Mrs. 
Kathleen  B.  Holding,  secretary  of  the  Mothers'  Aid  Department,  for 
her  help  in  compiling  this  material.  The  Manual  for  Mothers'  Aid 
Assistance  Fund  of  Pennsylvania,  prepared  by  Miss  Mary  P.  Bogue, 
has  been  of  great  assistance  in  writing  this  bulletin. 

The  Handbook,  it  is  hoped,  will  also  be  of  benefit  to  social  workers 
in  the  State,  other  than  superintendents  of  welfare,  who  are  seeking 
help  in  problems  of  family  welfare. 

Emeth  Tuttle, 
Director  of  Mothers'  Aid. 


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I.    THE  STATUTES 

[Public  Laws,  Session  1923] 
CHAPTER  260 

AN  ACT  TO  AID  NEEDY  ORPHAN  CHILDREN  IN  THE  HOMES  OF 
WORTHY   MOTHERS  .      , 

The  General  AssemMy  of  North  Carolina  do  enact: 

Section  1.  That  the  boards  of  county  commissioners  of  the  several  counties 
of  the  State  are  hereby  authorized,  in  their  discretion,  to  make  an  allowance 
to  any  eligible  mother  (as  hereinafter  explained  and  defined)  for  her  support, 
where  she  is  left  with  a  child  or  children  under  fourteen  years  of  age,  under 
the  conditions  hereinafter  set  forth. 

Sec.  2.  That  the  county  board  of  charities  and  public  welfare  of  any 
county,  after  investigation  by  the  county  superintendent  of  welfare,  may 
determine  what  amount  within  the  provisions  of  this  act  is  advisable  for  the 
care  of  a  child  or  children,  and  shall  recommend  to  the  board  of  county  com- 
missioners that  an  appropriation  be  made  for  the  support  of  such  mother  and 
child  or  childreai  under  fourteen  years  of  age. 

Sec.  3.  That  the  maximum  amount  to  be  allowed  per  month  under  this  act 
shall  not  exceed  fifteen  dollars  for  one  child,  ten  dollars  additional  for  the 
second  child,  and  five  dollars  additional  for  the  third  child,  or  any  excess  of 
three :  Provided,  the  total  amount  shall  not  exceed  forty  dollars,  except  in 
extraordinary  circumstances  in  which  it  appears  to  the  satisfaction  of  the 
board  of  county  commissioners  that  a  total  of  forty  dollars  per  month  would 
be  insufliicient  to  secure  the  purposes  above  set  forth. 

Sec  4.  That  to  be  eligible  to  apply  for  mother's  aid  a  woman  must  be  the 
mother  of  a  child  or  children  under  fourteen  years  of  age,  a  resident  of  the 
State  of  North  Carolina  for  three  years,  and  a  resident  of  the  county  for  one 
year  preceding,  and  possessed  of  sufficient  mental,  moral,  and  physical  fitness 
to  be  capable  of  maintaining  a  home  for  herself  and  child  or  children  and 
prevented  only  from  lack  of  means.  Such  person  must  be  either  a  widow, 
or  divorced,  or  deserted,  if  it  be  found  impossible  to  require  the  husband  to 
support  her,  or  the  husband  is  found  to  be  mentally  or  physically  incapacitated 
to  support  his  family,  or  if  the  husband  be  confined  in  any  jail  and  assigned 
to  work  the  roads  of  any  county  or  in  any  penal  or  eleemosynary  institution, 
provided  no  relative  is  able  and  willing  to  undertake  sufficient  aid :  Provided, 
that  if  the  mother  is  given  partial  aid  or  assistance  by  any  relative  or  charit- 
able organization,  the  board  of  county  commissioners,  in  their  discretion,  may 
make  allowance  to  such  mother  to  help  out  the  same  where  it  may  be  neces- 
sary, in  their  opinion  and  judgment. 

Sec.  5.  That  any  board  of  county  commissioners  taking  advantage  of  the 
provisions  of  this  statute  may  require  that  the  report  of  the  investigation  of 
the  county  superintendent  of  welfare  in  every  case  shall  be  presented  to  and 
approved  by  the  judge  of  the  juvenile  court  in  that  county  before  making  an 
appropriation. 

Sec  6.  That  the  State  Board  of  Charities  and  Public  Welfare  shall  have 
general  oversight  of  the  administration  of  this  act  with  the  view  to  making 
it  uniform  throughout  the  State ;  shall  furnish  all  necessary  blanks  and  give 
such  advice  and  help  as  it  can  in  order  to  aid  in  efficiently  securing  its  pur- 
pose. The  county  superintendent  of  public  welfare  shall  make  his  report  on 
any  case  to  the  board  of  county  commissioners  in  duplicate,  one  copy  of  which 
shall  be  forwarded  at  once,  with  the  action  of  the  board  of  county  commis- 
sioners endorsed  thereon,  to  the  State  Board  of  Charities  and  Public  Welfare 
and  one  filed  by  the  board  of  county  commissioners  with  its  records  in  the 
case.     The  State  Board  of  Charities  and  Public  W^elfare  shall  at  once  notify 


State  Board  of  Charities  and  Public  Welfare  7 

the  board  of  county  commissioners  its  approval  or  disapproval  for  reimburse- 
ment as  provided  in  section  eight  of  this  act,  and  the  said  board  may  suggest 
additional  requirements  for  the  consideration  of  the  board  of  county  com- 
missioners. 

Sec.  7.  That  after  investigation  by  the  county  welfare  officer,  when  the 
board  of  county  commissioners  shall  adjudge  that  a  mother  is  entitled  to  aid 
under  this  act,  said  board  of  county  commissioners  shall  determine  the  monthly 
amount  that  the  board  of  county  commissioners  may  allow  and  order  its 
treasurer  in  writing  to  pay  said  amount  to  the  person  designated  by  it  and 
continue  the  same  monthly  until  the  order  be  changed  or  the  expiration  of 
the  time  for  which  the  order  is  limited. 

Sec.  8.  That  at  the  end  of  each  fiscal  quarter  the  treasurer  of  the  county 
wherein  aid  has  been  granted  shall  furnish  an  itemized  statement  in  each 
case  of  amounts  paid,  duly  certified  by  him  under  oath,  to  the  State  Board  of 
Charities  and  Public  Welfare.  If  each  case  thereon  shall  have  been  approved 
by  the  State  Board  of  Charities  and  Public  Welfare  and  all  required  regula- 
tions of  this  act  shall  have  been  fulfilled,  the  State  Board  of  Charities  and 
Public  Welfare  shall  certify  the  account  to  the  State  Treasurer,  whereupon 
the  State  Treasurer  shall  immediately  make  out  and  forward  to  such  county 
treasurer  his  voucher  for  one-half  of  the  total  amount  certified  as  having 
actually  been  paid  out  by  the  county.  Such  voucher  shall  be  made  out  against 
any  fund  in  the  treasury  not  otherwise  appropriated:  Provided,  the  total 
amount  for  the  State  shall  not  exceed  a  maximum  of  fifty  thousand  dollars 
($50,000)  per  year,  to  be  apportioned  among  all  the  counties  on  a  per  capita 
basis :  Provided,  that  the  proportionate  share  of  any  county  not  availing 
itself  as  above  provided  by  this  act  shall  remain  in  the  hands  of  the  State 
Treasurer  until  otherwise  appropriated. 

Sec.  9.  That  all  laws  and  clauses  of  laws  in  conflict  with  the  provisions 
of  this  act  are  hereby  repealed. 

Sec.  10.     That  this  act  shall  be  in  force  from  and  after  its  ratification. 

Ratified  this  the  26th  day  of  February,  A.D.  1923. 

[Public  Laws,  Session  1925] 

CHAPTER  292 

AN  ACT  TO  AMEND  SECTION  5067  (h),  CONSOLIDATED  STATUTES, 
VOLUME  III,  IN  REGARD  TO  THE  APPORTIONMENT  OF  THE 
MOTHERS'  AID  FUND. 

The  Q-eneral  Assembly  of  North  Carolina  do  enact: 

Section  1.  That  section  5067  (h)  of  the  Consolidated  Statutes,  Volume  III, 
1924,  be  and  the  same  is  hereby  amended  by  striking  out  that  part  of  the  last 
sentence  of  said  section,  beginning  with  the  word  "provided"  after  the  words 
"per  capita  basis,"  in  line  13  and  continuing  to  the  end  of  the  section,  and  by 
substituting  in  lieu  thereof  the  following:  Provided,  that  if  the  boards  of 
county  commissioners  of  any  county  shall  fail  to  enter  into  an  agreement 
with  the  State,  on  or  before  the  first  Monday  of  June,  1925,  or  on  or  before 
the  first  Monday  in  June  of  any  succeeding  year,  that  they  will  meet  the 
State  apportionment  for  Mothers'  Aid  in  such  counties  for  the  ensuing  fiscal 
year,  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  this  act,  then  the  amount  appor- 
tioned to  that  county  shall  revert  to  the  general  Mothers'  Aid  Fund  and  be 
available  for  apportionment  to  the  counties  complying  with  the  provisisons  of 
this  act,  on  the  basis  of  the  population  of  these  counties. 

Sec.  2.  That  all  laws  and  clauses  of  laws  in  conflict  with  this  act  be  and 
the  same  are  hereby  repealed. 

Sec.  3.     That  this  act  shall  be  in  force  from  and  after  its  ratification. 


11.    THE  MOTHERS'  AID  LAW 

PURPOSE  OF  THE  LAW 

The  idea  incorporated  in  the  various  Mothers'  Aid  laws  that  have- 
been  passed  by  forty-two  states  in  the  past  fourteen  years  is  that 
Motherhood,  in  its  truest  sense,  is  of  financial  value  to  the  State.  It 
seems  strange  that  through  the  years  we  have  been  admonished  to  visit 
the  widows  and  the  fatherless  in  their  affliction  and  to  minister  unto 
them — and  that  our  response  has  been  to  take  the  children  immediately 
and  put  them  in  an  institution  if  space  could  be  found.  The  Mothers' 
Aid  laws  are  proof  that  citizens  have  realized  that  to  break  up  a  home 
of  any  sort  is  a  delicate  social-surgical  operation,  but  to  break  up  a  home 
for  poverty  alone  is  a  crime. 

To  give  a  widow  a  definite  sum  of  money  once  a  month  to  care  for 
her  children  is  only  the  letter  of  the  law.  The  spirit  takes  in  the  reali- 
zation of  the  mother's  and  children's  lack  of  the  father  and  all  that  his 
character  and  presence  meant  in  the  home.  The  Mothers'  Aid  Fund 
cannot  supply  this  need,  but  the  superintendents  of  welfare  can,  through 
friendly  visits  and  with  the  assistance  of  the  county  boards  of  welfare, 
help  in  every  way  possible  to  make  the  family  life  normal. 

The  Mothers'  Aid  law  is  not  perfect.  Already  several  amendments 
are  contemplated,  but  it  is  a  big  step  forward  in  child  welfare  in  ITorth 
Carolina.  Whether  it  is  succeeding  in  the  various  counties  administer- 
ing it  depends  upon  the  interest  taken  in  the  work  by  the  people  of  the 
counties.  Well  administered  it  is  capable  of  much  good,  poorly  admin- 
istered it  is  dangerous.  At  its  best  it  is  a  wonderful,  constructive  agency, 
capable  of  taking  its  place  with  the  best  of  the  forces  for  conserving  the 
childhood  of  the  State. 

Policies 

At  the  Public  Welfare  Institutes  at  the  University  of  x^orth  Carolina 
in  1924-1925  vexing  problems  of  Mothers'  Aid  were  discussed  and  the 
following  policies  adopted  by  the  superintendents  of  public  welfare. 

Desertion 

The  law  is  very  elastic  in  regard  to  desertion  cases.  This  laxity  had 
made  it  hard  for  officials  to  know  when  a  desertion  is  a  desertion.  It 
was  decided  that  if  a  man's  desertion  had  extended  over  twelve  months 
and  all  efforts  to  locate  him  had  failed,  the  mother  might  make  applica- 
tion for  aid. 

Physical  Disability 

The  law  is  indefinite  in  regard  to  physical  disability.  This  point,  it 
was  decided,  must  rest  upon  the  findings  of  a  thorough  physical  examina- 
tion by  a  reputable  physician  and  the  written  report  of  the  examination 
must  accompany  the  application. 

Furthermore,  it  was  agreed  that  no  case  could  be  considered  for 
Mothers'  Aid  with  active  tuberculosis,  or  other  infectious  or  contagious 


State  Boakd  of  Charities  and  Public  "Welfare  9 

disease  in  the  home.     Plans  must  be  worked  out  for  caring  for  this  situa- 
tion outside  the  home  before  the  case  is  approved. 

Property 

The  amount  of  property  a  woman  may  own  was  discussed.     It  was 

decided  to  study  the  question  individually  and  decide  upon  its  merits  as 

in  the  past. 

Roomer 

The  superintendents  ruled  strongly  against  the  "one-man  roomer." 

Immorality 

It  was  agreed  to  make  careful  and  patient  inquiry  into  rumors  relat- 
ing to  immorality  about  any  woman  receiving  aid.  If  the  evidence  is 
sufficient  to  remove  a  mother  from  the  list,  the  reasons  for  such  action 
should  be  explained  to  the  mother  and  her  case  either  referred  to  some 
other  agency  or  provision  made  for  the  children. 

Adequate  Grants 

The  question  of  adequate  grants  was  discussed  and  the  superintend- 
ents agreed  to  educate  their  commissioners  and  committees  to  the  wisdom 
of  helping  families  as  adequately  as  possible — not  spreading  the  money 
as  thinly  as  possible. 

Discontinuing 

Because  of  indefinite  statement  in  the  law  regarding  discontinuing  a 
case,  it  was  agreed  that  no  change  should  be  made  in  the  status  of  a  case 
except  upon  investigation  by  the  superintendent,  discussion  by  the  board 
of  welfare,  and  recommendations  to  county  commissioners  and  to  the 
State.  The  State  office  either  accepts  the  recommendations  or  appeals 
to  the  county  for  further  investigation.  This  policy  will  relieve  the 
superintendent,  or  the  county  commissioners,  of  personal  responsibility. 

This  does  not  apply  to  cases  where  the  mother  remarries  or  the  hus- 
band returns  from  a  State  institution  or  chain-gang,  after  desertion,  or 
when  a  mother  leaves  the  State.  Such  cases  come  off  automatically,  but 
should  be  verified  before  information  is  sent  to  the  State  office.  If  a 
mother  moves  from  one  county  to  another  the  county  of  her  last  resi- 
dence may  continue  to  aid  her  as  long  as  she  needs  help  up  to  twelve 
months. 

Vouchers 

Because  of  much  misunderstanding  in  regard  to  the  quarterly  vouchers 
the  State  office  agreed  to  mail  to  each  superintendent  administering  aid 
the  THREE  voucher  forms  during  the  last  month  of  the  quarter.  The 
superintendents  agreed  to  fill  out  the  vouchers  properly,  have  them 
signed  by  the  county  treasurer,  and  return  all  THREE  copies  to  the 
State  office. 


HI.    ADMINISTRATION 

Section  2  of  the  bill  reads,  "That  the  county  board  of  charities  and 
public  welfare  of  any  county,  after  investigation  by  the  county  superin- 
tendent of  public  welfare,  may  determine  what  amount,  within  the 
provisions  of  this  act,  is  advisable  for  the  care  of  a  child  or  children, 
and  shall  recommend  to  the  board  of  county  commissioners  that  an 
appropriation  be  made  for  the  support  of  such  mother  and  child  or 
children  under  fourteen  years  of  age." 

A  Community  Problem 

The  administration  of  Mothers'  Aid  is  therefore  a  community  respon- 
sibility first. 

County   Superintendent  of  Welfare 

It  rests  with  the  superintendents  of  public  welfare  to  make  a  thorough 
investigation  of  the  mother  herself,  her  family,  home,  relatives,  and 
people  who  know  her  in  her  present  home  or  at  previous  addresses. 
Members  of  the  county  board  of  welfare  and  commissioners  may  be  con- 
sulted as  references,  as  well  as  persons  listed  under  "Eligibility." 

County  Board  of  Welfare 

When  the  investigation  is  complete  the  superintendent  is  expected  to 
present  the  case  at  the  regular  meeting  of  his  board  of  welfare  and  go 
over  the  application  blank  with  them.  The  board  members  are  expected, 
in  their  turn,  to  read  and  discuss  the  applications  and  to  decide  whether 
or  not  to  ask  the  commissioners  for  aid.  If  the  meeting  of  the  board  of 
welfare  is  held  a  few  days  preceding  the  meeting  of  the  board  of  com- 
missioners, much  time  and  trouble  will  be  saved.  In  several  counties  in 
the  State  not  having  a  superintendent  of  public  welfare  the  board  of 
welfare  is  so  much  interested  in  the  work  that  one  of  its  members  makes 
the  investigations  and  does  the  visiting. 

County  Commissioners 

The  commissioners'  work  is  to  hear  the  findings  of  the  county  board 
in  regard  to  the  amount  the  mother  needs  and  to  decide  what  the  grant 
will  be.  This  relieves  them  of  all  responsibility,  except  that  of  seeing 
that  the  county  treasurer  makes  out  the  checks  to  each  mother  each 
month  and  sends  in  his  voucher  for  reimbursement  to  the  State,  quar- 
terly. 

There  has  been  a  great  deal  of  misunderstanding  in  the  past  about  the 
above  points.  Much  of  it  is  due  to  the  fact  that  county  officials  have 
not  read  the  law.  Perhaps  if  at  the  next  meeting  of  his  board  the 
county  superintendent  would  read  the  entire  law  it  would  be  of  great 
benefit. 

First  Monday  is  a  very  busy  day.  Commissioners  want  things  cut 
and  dried.     Instead  of  taking  up  time  with  circumstances  of  a  case,  or, 


State  Board  of  Charities  and  Public  Welfare  11 

on  tlie  other  hand,  just  asking  for  so  mucli  for  a  Mothers'  Aid  case, 
present  a  case  very  briefly :  "Mrs.  S.  of  Holly,  R.  F.  D.  ^o.  1,  a  widow 
with  four  children,  has  applied  to  the  county  board  of  welfare  for 
Mothers'  Aid.  We  have  gone  into  the  merits  of  the  case  thoroughly  and 
recommend  that  she  he  granted  $35  a  month.  I  have  the  application 
here  for  your  signature  and  will  be  glad  to  answer  any  questions." 

The  same  form  should  be  observed  in  reducing  or  increasing  or  dis- 
continuing a  grant. 

A  letter  similar  to  the  one  suggested  below  should  be  promptly  mailed 
to  each  mother  as  she  is  put  on  the  list : 

Dear   Mrs : — Your    application    for   Mothers'    Aid    has    been    duly 

presented  to  the  county  commissioners   of County,   and   to   the 

State  Board  of  Charities  and  Public  Welfare.     We  are  glad  to  inform  you 

that  beginning  with  the  month  of you  will  receive  a  check  for 

$ each  month  from  the  county  treasurer  for  your  county  and  State 

grant.  This  grant  will  continue  until  such  time  as  it  appears  upon  further 
investigation,  and  with  your  knowledge,  that  a  change  should  be  made." 

(Signed)      Superintendent  Public  Welfare. 

If  this  grant  is  changed  or  discontinued,  then  a  personal  letter  should 
be  sent  setting  forth  reasons  for  the  change. 

These  little  courtesies  would  mean  a  great  deal  to  these  mothers  and 
would  take  very  little  time. 

Procedure  of  Superintendent  of  Public  AVelfare  in  Administering 

Mothers'  Aid 

To  assist  the  mother  in  making  application. 

To  make  investigation  of  home  and  references  at  request  of  county 
board  of  public  welfare. 

To  give  this  report  in  writing,  according  to  outline  submitted  by  State 
Board,  to  the  county  board  for  approval,  sending  originals  and  dupli- 
cates of  such  cases  as  county  board  approves  to  State  Department. 

To  keep  in  touch  with  the  family  through : 

a.  Monthly  visits. 

b.  School  attendance. 

c.  Working  certificates. 

To  keep  in  close  touch  with  the  board  of  public  welfare  through  dis- 
cussions of  various  problems  in  Mothers'  Aid  cases  and  to  secure  their 
help. 

To  help  in  plans  to  keep  ambitious,  bright  children  in  school  after 
they  reach  fourteen  years. 

To  find  suitable  work  for  children  coming  of  working  age. 

To  find  suitable  work,  preferably  in  the  home,  for  mother,  if  necessary. 

To  put  mother  in  touch  with  all  county  and  State  agencies,  health, 
educational,  recreational,  religious,  that  will  aid  family. 


12  Handbook  on  Mothers'  Aid 

To  clieck  over  family  budget  every  six  months,  at  least,  and  maintain, 
reduce,  reject  or  increase;  to  make  report  to  the  county  commissioners 
and  to  report  their  action  to  State  Department. 

To  preserve  in  every  way  possible  the  self-respect  of  the  mother,  avoid- 
ing any  implication  of  charity,  emphasizing  the  idea  of  partnership 
between  the  mother  and  the  State. 


IV.    INVESTIGATION 

The  very  first  point  to  be  considered  in  an  applicant  for  Mothers'  Aid 
is  the  woman's  own  eligibility  under  the  law.  If  this  is  not  settled  at 
the  beginning  of  the  investigation,  time,  and  sometimes  money,  is  lost. 
It  is  a  reflection  on  the  superintendent  of  welfare  to  make  a  superficial 
and  hurried  investigation  and  then  "to  find  out  something"  about  the 
w^oman  after  she  has  been  receiving  aid  several  months  that  makes  it 
imperative  to  drop  her.  Many  superintendents  who  have  lived  in  their 
counties  for  years  know  the  type  and  character  of  their  clients,  thor- 
oughly, but  do  not  know  the  details  that  are  necessary  if  the  family  is 
to  be  helped  wisely. 

To  be  eligible : 

1.  "A  woman  must  be  the  mother  of  a  child  or  chiklren  luider  fourteen 
years  of  age." 

2.  "A  woman  must  be  a  resident  of  the  State  of  North  Carolina  for  three 
years  and  a  resident  of  the  county  for  one  year  preceding."  (In  a  few  coun- 
ties officials  have  continued  aiding  mothers  on  their  list  a  few  months  after 
the  mother  has  moved  into  another  county.  This  is  legally  right,  because 
she  is  a  resident  of  that  county  until  she  establishes  residence  elsewhere. 
It  is  economically  right,  because  the  mothers  have  moved  with  the  coopeation 
of  superintendents  of  welfare  in  order  that  they  might  improve  living  condi- 
tions and  become  self-supporting.) 

3.  "A  woman  must  be  possessed  of  sufficient  mental,  moral  and  physical 
fitness  to  be  capable  of  maintaining  a  home  for  herself  and  children  and 
prevented  only  from  lack  of  means.  (Under  Grants  to  Mothers  will  be  found 
an  explanation  of  what  we  mean  by  'home.'  It  will  readily  be  seen  that  the 
pauper  type  of  woman  is  not  the  kind  intended  for  Mothers'  Aid.) 

4.  "Such  a  person  must  be  either  a  widow,  or  divorced,  or  deserted,  if  it  be 
found  impossible  to  require  the  husband  to  support  her,  or  the  husband  is 
found  to  be  mentally  or  physically  incapacitated  to  support  his  family,  or  if 
the  husband  be  confined  in  any  jail  and  assigned  to  work  the  roads  of  any 
county  or  in  any  penal  or  eleemosynary  institution,  provided  no  relative  is 
able  to  and  willing  to  undertake  suflScient  aid :  Provided,  that  if  the  mother 
is  given  partial  aid  or  assistance  by  any  charitable  organization  the  board  of 
'jounty  commissioners,  in  their  discretion,  may  make  allowance  to  such  mother 
to  help  out  the  same  where  it  may  be  necessary  in  their  opinion  and  judgment." 

The  above  points  must  be  verified  by  court  and  institutional  records.  A 
further  discussion  is  found  under  "Policies." 

If  Associated  Charities,  Red  Cross,  or  other  organization  has  dealt  with  the 
family,  a  summary  of  the  history  should  be  secured.  If  the  county  has  a 
confidential  exchange,  this  will  be  a  mere  matter  of  form.  If  there  is  no 
confidential  exchange,  then  a  request  for  this  information,  in  order  to  avoid 
duplication  of  effort,  will  help  show  the  need  of  centralizing  the  family 
case  work. 

Teachers,  preachers,  church  visitors,  relatives,  employers — past  and  present — 
doctors,  rural  mail  carriers,  "the  leading  man  in  the  community,"  and  the 
"time  merchant"  should  be  interviewed.  This  not  only  to  get  information, 
but  to  acquaint  them  informally  with  the  value  of  the  work  and  to  secure 
their  interest  and  help. 

Following  is  suggested  an  outline  that  may  be  of  help  in  making  an  investi- 
gation in  a  family  applying  for  aid : 


14  Handbook  on  Mothers'  Aid 

A  (1).     The  Husband's  Death. 

1.  Circumstances ;  cause  and  date  of  death,  verify. 

2.  How  long  was  he  ill?     Name  and  address  of  doctor. 
A  (2).     The  Husband's  Desertion, 

1.  Why?     When? 

2.  What  efforts  have  been  made  to  locate  him  and  secure  support  for 

his  children? 

A  (3).     The  Husband's  Commitment  to  State  Hospital. 

1.  Date  of  commitment.     Physician  in  charge.     Place. 

2.  Diagnosis   (obtain  from  a  physician). 

8.  Influence  of  man's  condition  on  family — depressing  or  disturbing? 
A  (4).     The  Husband's  Commitment  to  Penal  Institution. 

1.  Date.     Session  of  Court.     Judge. 

2.  Cause  of  sentence.     Length  of  sentence.     (No  case  with  sentence 

of  less  than  one  year  eligible.) 
A  (5).     The  Husband's  Permanent  and  Total  Disability. 

1.  Diagnosis  and  prognosis  from  reputable  physician.     (Does  doctor 

believe  everything  possible  has  been  done  for  man?     What  does 
he  suggest?) 

2.  Is  there  likelihood  of  more  children  if  man  stays  at  home? 

B.  Sources  of  Help  and  Information. 

Relatives — names  and  circumstances  of  nearby  relatives.  Distant  rela- 
tives. What  plans  do  they  suggest?  How  will  they  help  in  carrying 
them  out? 

Church  and  other  social  agencies.  Does  the  pastor  know  family  person- 
ally?    What  financial  help  does  the  church  give? 

What  other  agencies,  social  or  fraternal,  are  interested  in  the  family? 
Do  they  advise  Mothers'  Aid,  or  do  they  think  children  should  be  re- 
moved and  placed  elsewhere? 

Employers,  friends.     What  help  and  information  can  they  give? 

C.  Background  and  Married  Life. 

1.  Man's  ancestry — education,  reputation  as  he  was  growing  up,  early  em- 

ployment. 

2.  Woman's  ancestry — education,  reputation  before  marriage,  employment 

before  marriage. 

3.  Married  life — how  long  had  man  and  woman  known  each  other?     Finan- 

cial conditions  under  which  they  set  up  housekeeping?  Did  wife  have 
regular  amount  to  spend  or  did  husband  do  all  the  managing  and 
buying? 

4.  Was  married  life  happy?     Reputation  as  a  father.     Physical  defects. 

5.  Is  there  any  history  of  drunkenness,  tuberculosis,  immorality,  insanity, 

feeble-mindedness,  epilepsy,  on  the  man's  side? 

6.  Did  he  ever  have  a  court  record?     Why? 

D.  Mother. 

1.  Character  and  ability. 

a.  Is  she  temperate?     Resourceful?     Optimistic? 

b.  Is  she  thrifty?     Does  she  buy  and  cook  nourishing  food?     What  is  her 

idea  of  a  good  daily  menu? 

c.  Condition  of  house,  mother  and  children,  as  regards  cleanliness  and 

order. 

d.  Does  she  give  the  children  religious  training? 

e.  Is   there  any  history   of  immorality,    drunkenness,    insanity,    feeble- 

mindedness,   epilepsy,    tuberculosis,    physical    defects    in    mother's 
family  ? 


State  Board  of  Charities  and  Public  Welfare  15 

f.  Are  there  curtains,  rugs,  pictures,  books,  flowers  in  the  home? 

g.  Does  she  take  part  in  community  activities? 

E.  Children. 

1.  Individual  characteristics  and  ambitions. 

a.  Are  they  obedient  and  helpful?     Can  the  mother  control  them,  espe- 

cially the  boys? 

b.  Are  there  juvenile  court  records?     Why? 

c.  Do  they  like  their  school  and  teachers?     If  not,  why?     Are  they  re- 

tarded?    Why?     Irregularity,    sickness,    sub-normality?       Do    they 
want  to  stop  at  fourteen  ? 

d.  Do  they  attend  Sunday  School? 

e.  Do    they   belong   to    church    societies.    Scouts,    or   other    recreational 


groups 


f.  Have  any  of  the  children  special  talents  or  ambitions? 

g.  What  are  the  mother's  plans  for  their  future? 

h.  If  there  are  grown  children  in  the  home,  what  do  they  think  of  their 
mother's  receiving  aid?     Are  they  doing  their  part? 
2.  Others  in  the  home.     Relation  to  the  family? 

a.  What  is  their  effect  on  the  home  life? 

b.  Should  other  arrangements  be  made  for  them? 

F,  Present  Environment. 

1.  What  is  the  character  of  the  neighborhood?     Where  do  the  children  play? 

2.  Condition  of  the  house,  roof,  plastering,  type  of  water  supply? 

3.  Are  there  separate  sleeping  rooms  for  boys  and  girls  above  twelve  years 

of    age?     Number    of    beds?     Is    bedding    clean    and    sufficient?     Are 
rooms  airy  and  sunny? 

4.  How  does  the  standard  of  living  compare  with  that  when  the  man  was 

alive? 

G.  Health  of  Mother  and  Children. 

1.  Mother's  physical  condition — make  sijecial  inquiry  as  to  decayed  teeth, 

headaches  or  eye  trouble,  back  ache,  goitre,  uterine  trouble,  varicose 
veins,  cough,  throat. 

2.  Children. 

a.  Mental   and  physical  condition   of  each.     Was  he  normal   at  birth? 

Tonsils   and  adenoids,   bad  teeth,   frequent  colds,  eye  trouble,   ear 
trouble,  skin  eruptions,  malnutrition? 

b.  How  much  milk  does  family  use  daily?     Source  of  supply? 

e.  If  physical  examinations  seem  necessary,  they  should  be  made  and 
reports  sent  in  with  application  if  the  county  has  health  officer. 
Otherwise  they  can  be  made  and  followed  up  as  quickly  as  possible. 
In  cases  where  there  is  a  history  of  T.B.  or  V.D.  examinations  are 
required  of  every  member  of  the  family. 

d.  Does  any  member  of  the  family  need  institutional  care? 

e.  Work  problems.     Has  mother  time  for  some  remunerative  work  at 

home?     Outside?     (See  chapter  on  Home  Occupations.) 

note. — Miss  Richmond's  Questionnaire  on  "The  Widow  with   Children,"  and  Miss   Bogue's 
Manual  have  been  of  great  help  in  preparing  these  questions. 


V.    APPLICATION  BLANK  AND  TYPICAL  HISTORY 

NOTE 

The  application  for  Mothers'  Aid  and  history  following  was  adapted 
from  an  actual  case  in  a  superintendent's  office.  All  names  of  persons 
and  places  are  changed. 

To  a  superintendent  with  no  clerical  help  such  a  record  may  look  very 
long,  but  when  he  considers  that  with  the  exception  of  the  hours  neces- 
sary in  filling  out  the  application  and  writing  the  accompanying  history 
the  remainder  was  written  over  a  period  of  two  years  it  does  not  seem 
too  hard  to  do.  Certainly  the  mother  is  entitled  to  as  definite  a  record 
as  this. 

State  Boaed  of  Charities  and  Public  Welfare 

Application  for  Mothers'  Aid  from  Mothers'  Aid  Fund  of  North  Carolina 


(STATE... 

Case  No i 

[County  No.  3 

Name  of  County  Supt.  of  Welfare 

Surname:  Rockwell.    Date:  April  15,  1924. 

1.  Address,  city,  town,  street  number,  R.  F.  D.:  Oak  City,  R.  F.  D.  1  (About  ten  miles  7iortheast,  near 

L.  L.  Branch). 

2.  Mother's  name:  Lizzie  McRae  Rockwell.    Date  of  birth:  June  28,  1885.    Birthplace:  Person  County. 

Religion:  Methodist. 

3.  Husband's  full  name:  William  Hardison  Rockwell.    Date  of  birth:  June  27,  1888.  Birthplace:  Person 

County.    Religion:  Presbyterian.    Occupation:  Farmer.    Name  other  organizations  he  belonged 
to:  Tobacco  Cooperative  Association. 

4.  Is  he  dead,  imprisoned,  disabled,  or  deserting?     Dead.    Cause:  Bronchial  asthma.  Place;  Oak  City, 

R.  F.  D.  1.    Date:  Feb.  15,  1924.    Is  he  an  ex-service  man? ...    With  what  organization? 

Verified  how? 

5.  Date  and  place  of  marriage:  Sept.  20,  1914;  Oak  City,  R.  F.  D.  1.    Verified  how?  Register  of  Deeds 

Office,  Person  County. 

6.  Date  and  place  of  any  previous  marriage: Verified  how? 

Termination: Cause: 

7.  Is  man  living,  where? Verified  how? 

8.  Length  of  mother's  residence  in  county:  Life.     In  State:  Life. 

9.  Children  under  14;  where  they  are,  and  why: 


Name 

Date  of  Birth 

School 

Grade 

Defects 

Willie,  Jr. 

Apr.      8,  1916 
Mar.      1,  1918 
Apr.    14,1920 
Nov.     16,  1921 

Laurel 

2 

1 

Ruptured 

James  Byrd 

Laurel 

Normal 

Pearl 

Bad  tonsils 

Bell    .. 

Healthy 

. 

10.  Children  above  fourteen  (if  not  living  at  home 

state  where  and  why): 

Name 

Age 

Employer 

Address 

Weekly 
Wages 

Contribution 
to  Family 
Expenses 

None 

State  Boaed  of  Charities  and  Public  Welfare 

n.  Others  in  household: 


17 


Name 

Age 

Relationship 

Income 

Contribution 
to  Family 
Expenses 

Garland  McRap 

18 

Nephew 

Works  on  farm  in 

busy  season. 

12.  Mother's  occupation:  Farmino  and  housekeeping.    At  home?  Yes.    Weekly  earnings,  $   See  No.  13. 

Number  days  and  hours  away  from  home: How  are  children  cared  for  in  absence? 

Employer's  name  and  address: 


13.  Important— Answer  as  fully 

as  possibl 

Average  Income  Covering 
Six  Months  Period 

Paid  to 
Mother 

Amount 
of  Income 
Monthly 

Expenditures  of  Family  for  the 
Month  of  Application 

Amount 

Names  and  ages  of  children 

.« 

S 

Taxes,  insurance.  Interest 

$      1.50 

working 
(11 

Food 

Medicine  and  doctor 

Fuel  and  light  {kerosene) 

Clothes — repairs 

Shoes — repairs 

14.50 
1.00 

(2) 

1.00 

(3) 

5.00 

10.00 
1.63 

16.17 

3.50 

Stock  Feed -. 

8.00 

300  lbs.  meat,  $75.00 

2.75 

Other  sources:  Irregular  assistant 
relatives  and  friends  in  food  ana 

e  from 

Total 

Total 

27.80 

37.25 

Amount  requested  from  county  and  State  for  family  to  live  respectably,  $20.00. 

14.  Liabilities,  mortgages,  nature,  creditors,  addresses:  Mortgage,  $200.00  on  home.     House  unfinished, 

walled  in,  no  partitions.    Well  to  be  dug;  rocks  on  the  ground. 

15.  Property,  real  estate,  business  equipment,  loan  or  cash  value  of  insurance,  money,  food,  clothing 

on  hand:  One  mule,  one  cow,  25  hens,  4  turkeys,  1  small  pig,  small  farm  equipment,  household  fur- 
nishings, wagon  and  buggy. 

16.  Number  of  rooms,  and  condition  as  to  safety  and  sanitation:  5  rooms  when  divided.    Number  beds, 

4.     Is  kitchen  equipment  adequate?     Yes;  good  stove. 

17.  Church  and  Sunday  School  attended  by  children:  Sapling  Ridge. 

18.  Mother:  Education — About  sixth  grade  education.    Industrious,  resourceful,  ambitious,  determined  to 

make  the  best  of  a  poor  situation.  Any  training  other  than  school  work?  No  definite  training,  but 
knowledge  of  sewing,  embroidering,  quilting,  preserving,  cooking.  Business  ability  (illustrate):  Sells 
chickens,  eggs,  sews,  and  keeps  her  accounts.  Hopes  to  develop  turkey  raising  into  an  industry. 
Evidences  of  culture  and  attractiveness  in  home  (rugs,  curtains,  pictures,  magazines,  etc.):  Cur- 
tains, rugs,  counterpanes,  etc.,  made  by  mother;  pictures  and  magazines  in  evidence.  Health:  Fairly 
good  health  except  that  teeth  need  attention;  worried  over  responsibilities.  Physical  examination: 
Needed?  Yes;  Given?  Arranged  for  next  month. 

19.  History  of  family:  (1)  Explain  how  lack  of  adequate  income  has  been  met  heretofore.     (2)  Fornaer 

occupations  of  woman.  (3)  Children  removed,  when,  why,  how  long.  (4)  Juvenile  court  records, 
etc.  (5)  Former  addresses  of  family,  landlords,  and  dates  of  leaving:  (1)  Relatives  and  friends 
provided  for  family  since  husband's  death.  (2)  None.  (3)  None.  (4)  None.  (5)  From  date  of  mar- 
riage until  1923  family  lived  as  tenants  on  S.  K.  Eckard'sfarm  about  one  mile  north  of  present  address. 
One  year  ago  Mr.  Rockwell's  father  gave  him  30  acres  of  half-cleared  land  on  which  the  present  home 
was  started. 

20.  Immediate  plans  for  family  if  aid  is  granted:  To  help  mother  develop  turkey  business  and  become 

self-supporting.  To  enable  her  to  pay  off  mortgage  on  home  and  finish  her  house  and  well.  To  help 
mother  make  arrangements  with  a  dentist  for  treatment;  to  have  Pearl  examined  thoroughly  and  her 
tonsils  removed,  if  necessary;  have  Dr.  Wells  see  Willie  again. 


18  Handbook  on  Mothers'  Aid 

21.  Collateral  references:  (1)  Married  children.  (2)  Near  relatives.     (3)  Pastor,  physician,  school  and 
Sunday-school  teachers,  former  employers.     (4)  Present  and  former  neighbors. 
(Check  References  Interviewed  and  Attach  Reports) 


Name 

Address 

Relation  to  Family 

A.  T.  McRae 

W   F   Rockwell 

Oak  City,  R.  2 

Oak  City,  R.l 

Oak  City,  R.  1 

Oak  City,  R.  1 

Oak  City,  R.  1 

Oak  City 

Brother 
Father-in-law 

Robert  Rockwell 

Brother-in-law 

L.  L.  Branch 

T.  H.  Kelly 

Dr.  B.  F.  Wells... 

Neighbor  and  friend 

Neighbor 

Physician 

22.  The  above  is  correct,  according  to  my  knowledge  and  belief. 

MRS.  LIZZIE  ROCKWELL 
(Mothers  Signature) 
(seal)  

,  Notary  Public. 

RECOMMENDATION 

23.  The  County  Board  of  Welfare,  having  inquired  into  conditions  and  circumstances  of  Mrs.  Lizzie 

McRae  Rockwell,  an  applicant  for  Mother's  Aid,  do  reconamend  that  she  be  granted  aid  to  the 
amount  of  $20.00  per  month  from  County  and  State. 

(Signed)       MRS.  MAY  ELLINGTON 
JAMES  CHURCH 
Date:  May  5,  1924  F-  R-  BURRELL 

24.  Approved  by  County  Commissioners  for  $10.00,  May  5,  1924- 

Chairman. 

25.  Approved  by  State  Board  of  Charities  and  Public  Welfare  to  the  amount  of  $10.00  on 

192-... 

Director,  Mother's  Aid. 
HISTORY  SHEET 

(To  accompany  application  blank) 
Re  :     Mrs.  Lizzie  McRae  Rockwell 

April  4,  1924.  The  register  of  deeds  of  Person  County  reported  to  the 
superintendent  of  welfare  in  April  that  he  believed  Mrs.  Rockwell  should  have 
Mothers'  Aid  under  the  new  law,  passed  by  the  1923  Legislature. 

The  superintendent  immediately  began  investigations.  (This  history,  with 
the  application  blank,  brings  the  case  up  to  the  present.) 

Family  History 

The  Rockwells  are  ambitious  and  intelligent  farm  people.  When  William 
Hardison  Rockwell  died  the  family  was  in  a  fair  way  to  rise  out  of  the  tenant 
class  into  the  owner  class. 

Husband's  father,  who  owns  farm  of  about  200  acres,  offered  each  of  his 
three  sons  30  acres  if  they  would  settle  and  build.  They  were  to  pay  the 
taxes.  William  accepted  this  offer  about  a  year  ago,  built  the  frame  of  his 
house,  a  satisfactory  barn,  and  had  partially  dug  a  well,  when  he  died. 
These  improvements  were  made  with  money  he  had  saved  during  the  years 
he  was  a  tenant  farmer.  He  had  asthma  most  of  his  life.  This  reached  a 
bronchial  stage  in  February,  which  caused  his  death  February  15th. 

Neighbors  hauled  sufficient  rock  to  wall  up  the  well  and  have  been  trying 
to  find  some  one  to  do  the  work  which  wdll  cost  about  $25. 


State  Board  of  Charities  and  Public  Welfare  19 

There  is  a  $200  mortgage  on  the  house  which  Mrs.  Rockwell  expects  to 
pay  when  she  is  able. 

Environment,  Housing  and  Neighborhood 

The  Rockwells  live  at  Oak  City,  R.  1,  in  a  fairly  prosperous  section  of 
Person  County.  Most  of  the  farm  homes  are  painted  and  apparently  com- 
fortable. 

The  house  stands  on  a  hill  at  the  edge  of  a  wood  about  one  and  a  half  miles 
from  the  nearest  main  road.  The  nearest  neighbors  are  a  quarter  of  a  mile 
away  in  opposite  directions.  The  house  itself,  when  finished,  will  be  con- 
venient and  unusually  compact  for  a  farm  dwelling.  The  outside  walls,  the 
roof  and  flooring  are  in  place.  The  living  room  is  ceiled  and  Mrs.  Rockwell 
expects  to  get,  the  others  ceiled  as  soon  as  possible.  She  has  sufficient  furni- 
ture to  be  comfortable.  Everything  was  clean  and  in  good  condition  at  the 
time  of  visit. 

Mrs.  Rockwell  has  planted  roses  around  the  porch  and  has  set  out  a  number 
of  other  plants. 

Health 

Mrs.  R.'s  health  is  good  in  spite  of  decaj^ed  teeth.  She  expects  to  have  them 
looked  after  next  month. 

Willie,  Jr.,  lost  a  month  of  school  because  of  sickness.  He  was  ruptured 
when  quite  small.  Has  worn  a  truss  about  two  years.  Recently  he  took  it 
off  to  go  in  swimming,  forgot  to  replace  it,  and  his  mother  knew  nothing  of 
it  until  he  complained.  She  will  take  him  to  Dr.  Wells  when  she  goes  to 
town.     Willie  is  a  bright,  attractive  brunette. 

James  Byrd  is  apparently  well  and  strong.  A  bit  shy,  but  very  quick 
mentally.     He  is  a  blond. 

Pearlie,  almost  an  albino,  looks  well,  but  is  nervous,  excitable,  hard  to 
manage.     She  has  bad  tonsils,  which  will  be  looked  after. 

Belle,  the  baby,  is  a  golden-haired,  blue-eyed  cherub. 

Children's  Education 

Willie  and  James  attend  Laurel  School,  two  miles  away.  They  like  their 
school  and  do  good  work.  Will  probably  be  promoted.  Mrs.  Rockwell  is 
ambitious  for  her  children.  She  and  her  husband  planned  to  buy  a  Ford  when 
the  girls  were  big  enough  to  go  to  school  so  they  would  not  have  to  walk 
in  bad  weather. 

Church  Connections 

The  family  attends  Sapling  Ridge  Methodist  Church,  two  miles  away. 
There  is  Sunday  School  every  Sunday  and  preaching  once  a  month. 

Relatives  and  Friends 

Mrs.  R.  has  two  sisters  and  one  brother,  all  married,  with  families,  living 
in  Person  County,  though  not  right  near.  One  sister  has  ten  children.  While 
they  cannot  give  financial  help,  they  are  interested  and  sympathetic. 

Mr.  Rockwell,  Sr..  lives  in  sight.  He  and  Robert  Rockwell  are  of  great 
help  in  carrying  on  the  work  of  the  farm. 

The  people  in  the  neighborhood  are  much  interested  in  the  family.  (See 
collateral  references.) 

Recreation 

The  community  is  rural.  Recreation  in  the  sense  of  clubs  and  organized 
play  activities  is  practically  nil.  The  Rockwells,  as  other  families  in  the 
community,  go  to  church,  where  they  get  together  socially,  spend  the  day  at 


20  Handbook  on  Mothers'  Aid 

each  other's  houses,  go  fishing,  have  quilting  parties,  and  do  whatever  the 
neighborhood  does  by  way  of  social  activities. 

Mother's  Plans 

Mrs.  R.  has  been  accustomed  to  farm  work  all  of  her  life.  She  is  indus- 
trious in  the  field  and  in  her  house.  This  year  she  expects  to  work  about 
ten  acres  of  land.  Three  in  cotton,  three  or  four  in  wheat,  the  rest  in  com. 
She  also  plans  to  have  a  garden,  as  usual,  and  raise  vegetables  for  summer 
use  and  for  canning.     She  will  put  up  a  supply  of  fruit  for  the  winter. 

Mrs.  R.  has  arranged  with  her  18-year-old  nephew  to  do  the  plowing  for 
her.  He  has  rented  ten  acres  himself  from  L.  L.  Branch,  whose  farm  adjoins. 
This  boy  will  continue  to  live  at  Mrs.  R.'s  until  fall.  Mrs.  R.  will  help  him 
with  his  crops  in  return  for  the  work  he  does  for  her. 

Besides  25  hens,  Mrs.  R.  has  a  good  many  little  chicks,  and  expects  to  raise 
more.  She  also  plans  to  raise  more  turkeys.  She  hopes  eventually  to  be 
able  to  make  her  living  with  her  turkeys  and  chickens  and  not  have  to  do 
heavy  farm  work. 

She  would  like,  also,  to  do  sewing,  especially  children's  clothes,  in  the 
winter  months.  It  is  hard,  however,  to  get  a  market,  as  she  is  quite  a  dis- 
tance from  a  town. 

Family  Budget 

Like  most  country  women,  Mrs.  R.  has  never  kept  account  of  her  income 
or  her  expenses.  She  grows  most  of  the  things  she  needs  on  the  farm  and 
so  has  little  cash  to  handle.  When  she  goes  to  town  on  her  occasional  trips 
she  buys  remnants  of  cotton  and  wool  material  which  she  gradually  works 
up  into  clothes  for  the  children. 

She  figured  roughly  that  she  needs  around  $10  a  month  cash  for  food  alone. 

Flour   $3.50 

Molasses 1.00 

Sugar  2.00 

Coffee  1.20 

Other  food  1.80 

Kerosene  50 


$10.00 


Mrs.  R.  uses  about  ten  bushels  of  corn  each  month  for  her  stock.  When  the 
twenty  bushels  she  has  are  used  up  she  will  have  to  buy  at  the  rate  of  $1.20 
per  bushel.  She  has  meat  enough  to  last  through  the  summer.  She  has 
bought  ten  sacks  of  guano,  and  has  spent  $20  since  Christmas  for  the  family's 
clothes. 

Taxes  amount  to  about  $6  a  year  and,  in  addition,  there  is  a  small  amount 
of  interest  on  her  mortgage. 

Taking  all  things  into  consideration,  this  seems  to  be  an  excellent  case  for 
Mothers'  Aid.  Most  of  the  supervision  needed  will  be  directed'  toward  helping 
Mrs.  Rockwell  develop  her  poultry  and  turkey  business.  If  this  can  be  done 
probably  two  or  three  years  help  will  see  her  self-supporting. 

Collateral  References 

April  15,  1924.  Interviewed  Mr,  P.  H.  Kelly,  Oak  City,  R.  1,  who  has  known 
the  Rockwell  family  all  his  life.  He  believes  that  Mrs.  R.  is  a  fine  woman 
and  mother.  She  is  noted  throughout  the  community  for  her  industry  and 
good  housekeeping.  It  would  be  impossible  for  any  one  in  the  neighborhood 
to  bring  any  charges  against  her. 


State  Board  of  Charities  and  PtiBLic  Welfare  21 

April  15,  1924.  Interviewed  Mr.  L.  L.  Branch,  neighbor  and  friend.  Mr. 
Branch  reported  the  case  originally  to  the  register  of  deeds.  He  is  a  justice 
of  the  peace  and  married  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rockwell  at  his  own  home.  He  is 
much  interested  in  the  family  and  believes  it  will  be  much  better  for  Mrs. 
Rockwell  to  have  aid  and  keep  her  children  with  her  than  to  put  them  in  an 
institution. 

April  20,  1924.  Interviewed  Dr.  B.  F.  Wells,  family  physician,  who  lives  at 
Oak  City,  He  has  known  the  Rockwell  family  since  the  birth  of  the  first 
child.  Thinks  Mrs.  R.  is  in  good  physical  condition,  but  is  at  present  rather 
run  down  because  of  exti-a  w^ork  during  her  husband's  illness.  He  believes 
that  financial  help  will  relieve  her  of  some  of  the  responsibilities  she  feels  now. 

Dr.  Wells  has  treated  Willie  for  rupture  and  put  the  truss  on  him.  He 
has  never  been  called  in  to  treat  any  of  the  children  except  Willie  and  Pearl. 
She  had  colitis  when  little,  and  has  not  been  strong  like  the  other  children. 

RUNNING  HISTORY  IN  COUNTY  SUPERINTENDENT'S  OFFICE 

April  4,  1924.  Mr.  Job,  register  of  deeds,  asked  superintendent,  who  was 
in  Oak  City  on  business,  if  Mrs.  Rockwell,  a  widow  with  four  children,  would 
be  eligible  for  Mothers'  Aid.  Told  him  that  it  would  be  necessary  for  super- 
intendent to  visit  the  home  and  make  out  the  application.  Investigation 
might  prove  her  eligible.     Mr.  Job  directed  superintendent  to  Mrs.  R.'s  home. 

April  15,  1924.  Visited  Mrs.  Rockwell.  Filled  out  application.  Talked  with 
neighbors.     Verified  the  marriage  at  the  courthouse. 

April  29,  1924.  Met  with  board  of  welfare  and  presented  Mrs.  R.'s  applica- 
tion and  the  history  of  the  family  in  typewritten  form.  Two  members  of  the 
board  knew  Mrs.  R.  personally  and  considered  her  a  good  subject  for  Mothers' 
Aid. 

Board  signed  application  asking  for  $20  a  month  from  county  and  State. 

May  5,  1924.  Presented  signed  application  to  county  commissioners  at  their 
regular  meeting.     They  approved  the  $20  grant. 

3Iay  6,  1924.  Application  blank  in  duplicate  and  one  copy  of  history  sheet 
sent  to  the  State  Director  of  Mothers'  Aid. 

May  15,  1924.  Letter  from  State  Director  enclosing  approved  application 
for  county  file. 

May  22,  1924.  Showed  approved  application  to  county  treasurer,  secured 
check  for  $20,  and  took  it  to  Mrs.  Rockwell. 

June  1,  1924.     Letter  from  Mrs.  R.  saying  she  had  not  received  June  check. 

Talked  with  county  treasurer  over  the  phone.  Asked  him  to  see  that  checks 
were  mailed  regularly  when  other  county  bills  were  paid. 

July  17,  1924.  Visited  Mrs.  R.  with  State  Director  and  the  representative 
of  the  Laura  Spelman  Memorial  Fund.  The  crops  were  in  good  condition. 
Mrs.  Rockwell  was  much  improved  in  appearance,  children  healthy.  Visitors 
took  several  pictures  of  the  older  children.  Belle  was  asleep.  Promised  to 
send  mother  copy  of  the  pictures. 

The  family  was  living  in  Mrs.  R.'s  bedroom  and  kitchen.  Boys  sleep  In 
the  unfinished  part  of  the  house. 

AVent  over  Mrs.  R.'s  expense  account  for  June.  As  she  did  not  have  to  buy 
much  food — her  garden  bringing  in  plenty^no  shoes,  or  animal  feed,  she  had 


22  Handbook  on  Mothers'  Aid 

been  able  to  get  material  to  make  some  dresses  for  the  girls  and  shirts  for 
the  boys;  also,  to  get  a  few  jars  and  new  rubbers  for  her  canning  and  pre- 
serving. She  had  paid  $10  on  her  original  bill  of  $35  for  lumber  to  ceil  her 
house. 

Income  Expenditures 

Mothers' Aid  check $20.00      Food   (sugar  for  canning) $4.00 

Sale  of  eggs 2.50      Clothing  (remnants  for  chn.)....      4.60 

Blackberries  70      Ladies  Home  Journal 15 

Glass  jars  and  rubbers 3.20 

$23.20      Soap,  starch,  scrub  brush 1.25 

On  lumber  bill 10.00 


$23.20 


August  14,  1924.  Made  friendly  visit  at  the  home.  Mrs.  R.  said  the  rainy 
weather  had  "fouled"  her  crops  to  some  extent,  and  had  drowned  most  of 
her  little  turkeys.  She  expected  a  good  cotton  crop  and  had  planted  early 
to  beat  the  boll  weevil. 

She  displayed  with  much  pride  little  smocks  and  bloomers  she  had  made 
for  the  children. 

September  17,  1924.  Visited  at  the  home.  Mrs.  R.  wanted  help  in  selling 
her  turkeys.  Advised  her  to  try  to  market  them  in  Oak  City,  as  the  Durham 
market  did  not  seem  very  good. 

James  Byrd  was  sitting  on  the  steps  reading  the  bulletin  from  the  State 
Board  of  Health,  which  had  been  coming  since  Mrs.  R.  was  put  on  the  Mothers' 
Aid  list. 

Mother  had  saved  $25  out  of  her  checks  for  the  past  three  months  to  pay 
for  finishing  the  well.     Water  excellent.     Inspected  account  book. 

November  11,  1924.  Visited  at  the  home.  Found  Mrs.  R.  and  the  two  little 
girls  picking  cotton.  She  expected  to  make  about  a  bale  and  a  half.  Had 
already  picked  about  four  bales  all  together  for  herself  and  neighbors  and 
relatives.  One  of  her  fields,  already  picked,  had  been  plowed  up  again,  sewed 
in  oats  and  rye  for  her  chickens.     Two  boys  were  in  school. 

December  11,  1924.  Visited  home  to  take  Christmas  presents  to  the  family, 
from  the  Woman's  Club  of  Oak  City.  Mrs.  R.  was  much  pleased.  Asked  that 
they  be  hidden  in  the  barn  that  the  children  might  be  surprised  on  Christmas. 

Mrs.  R.'s  nephew  had  gone  to  High  Point  to  work  in  a  furniture  factory. 
While  he  had  been  much  help,  Mrs.  R.  said  he  w^as  a  "tremendous  eater." 

She  reported  that  she  had  sold  ten  turkeys  recently  for  twenty-two  cents  a 
pound.  Was  not  able  to  get  to  town  with  them  until  the  market  was  crowded. 
Promised  to  help  her  more  next  year. 

February  10,  1925.  Visited  at  the  home.  Because  of  bad  weather  in 
January,  it  was  impossible  to  get  over  the  roads  to  Mrs.  R.'s  house.  Found 
the  family  at  home,  the  children  around  the  fire  making  Valentines.  All  had 
been  well  except  for  bad  colds.  They  were  longing  for  spring  so  they  could 
get  out  again.     Left  a  number  of  magazines  for  the  children. 

March  26,  1925.  Visited  at  the  home.  In  the  interim  between  the  last  visit 
Mrs.  R.'s  neighbors  had  helped  her  ceil  the  house — at  least,  two  additional 
rooms.  It  was  much  more  comfortable.  She  had  finished  pajang  for  the 
lumber  with  some  of  the  money  she  got  from  her  cotton. 


State  Board  of  Charities  and  Public  Welfare  2?y 

April  20,  1925.  Visited  at  the  home.  Found  school  closed  for  the  term.. 
The  boys  had  finished  the  third  grade.  Mrs.  R.'s  feet  had  been  giving  her 
some  trouble  and  Dr.  Wells  had  ordered  arch  supporters. 

June  1,  1925.  Mrs.  R.  got  a  neighbor  to  bring  her  to  town  to  superintend- 
ent's office.  Took  her  to  Dr.  Giles,  dentist.  Had  previously  made  appoint- 
ment and  he  had  offered  to  do  the  work  on  Mrs.  R.'s  teeth  for  the  cost  of. 
material  alone. 

Late  in  the  afternoon  she  came  back  to  the  office  and  left  word  that  she^ 
had  two  teeth  removed  and  several  filled. 

July  15,  1925,  Visited  the  home.  Because  of  Pubic  Welfare  Institute,  it 
was  not  possible  to  do  any  visiting  for  some  time.  Mrs.  R.  was  expecting  to 
make  two  bales  of  cotton,  fruit  and  berries  had  been  so  scarce  that  she  had 
not  been  able  to  do  much  canning  and  preserving.  She  was  helping  her 
father-in-law  with  chopping  and  picking  and  he  was  doing  her  plowing. 

Her  cow  was  giving  an  abundance  of  milk  and  she  had  sold  the  nine-weeks- 
old  calf  a  few  weeks  before  for  $10. 

Her  garden  had  been  fair,  but  dried  up  early.  She  again  had  some  young 
turkeys  and  expected  to  have  about  seven  gobblers  and  eight  hens  for  sale 
in  the  fall.  Hoped  to  get  a  better  price  than  last  Christmas.  Told  Mrs.  R. 
that  State  appropriation  for  Mothers'  Aid  had  been  cut  one-third  and  that 
she  would  be  notified  as  to  the  amount  she  would  receive  each  month  in  the 
future. 

August  3,  1925.  At  a  meeting  of  the  county  commissioners.  Mrs.  Rockwell's 
grant  was  cut  from  $20  to  $15  a  month.  Wrote  Mrs.  R.  to  this  effect,  also  a 
letter  to  State  Department. 

August  9,  1925.  Mrs.  Adams,  newly  appointed  member  of  the  welfare  board, 
told  superintendent  she  was  trying  to  help  Mrs.  R.  find  some  sewing  in 
Oak  City. 

September  10,  1925.  Visited  at  the  home.  Mrs.  R.  was  hoping  to  hear  from 
Mrs.  Adams  about  some  sewing.  Said  her  turkeys  were  getting  along  very 
well.     She  hoped  the  superintendent  would  help  her  market  them. 

September  11,  1925.  Interviewed  cafeteria  manager  in  regard  to  buying 
turkeys.  Said  they  got  theirs  readj^  dressed  and  besides  that  wanted  large 
birds.  As  Mrs.  R.'s  were  small,  the  cafeteria  people  suggested  selling  them 
in  private  homes. 

October  19,  1925.  Wrote  Mrs.  R.  that  eight  would-be  purchasers  had  been 
found  for  her  turkeys  at  thirty-five  cents  a  pound. 

October  22,  1925.  Letter  from  Mrs.  R.  expressing  thanks  at  the  prospect  of 
turkey  sales.  Three  children  were  in  school  and  doing  well.  Belle  had  just 
entered. 

Her  father-in-law  would  make  the  crates  to  carry  the  turkeys  to  town. 

November  1,  1925.  Wrote  Mrs.  R.  sending  names  of  five  additional  pur- 
chasers and  asked  that  she  have  turkeys  ready  on  the  19th,  when  superin- 
tendent and  State  Director  would  come  down  after  them. 

Looked  over  expense  account  for  previous  month.  Although  Mrs.  R.'s  grant 
has  been  cut  to  $15,  she  managed  to  sell  enough  eggs,  etc.,  to  bring  in  $20.10. 
As  the  children  had  to  begin  school,  most  of  the  money  had  to  go  for  things 


24  Handbook  on  Mothers'  Aid 

they  need  and  nothing  was  left  over  for  the  mortgage,  which  slie  hopes  to 
pay  off  from  her  sale  of  turkeys. 

Income  Expenditures 

Mothers'    Aid $15.00  Pood,  flour,  meal,  molasses $7.45 

Eggs   2.50  Shoe;S— Willie    3.00 

Chickens    .,— , 50  Sweater — James    4.25 

Sausage  1.60  Tablets,  books,  pencils 5.30 

Sewing  child's  dress 50  .      

— $20.00 

$20.10 

November  19,  1925.  Drove  to  the  home  for  the  turkeys.  Had  dinner — a 
good  country  dinner  with  Mrs.  R.,  the  two  little  girls  and  Miss  McRae,  a 
niece  of  Mrs.  R.  Then  went  to  the  barn.  The  turkeys  had  been  shut  up  for 
a  week  and  fattened.  Weighed  each  bird  and  put  them  in  crates  fastened 
on  the  side  of  the  car.     They  varied  from  eight  to  sixteen  pounds. 

Mrs.  R.  said  that  she  had  finished  picking  her  own  cotton  and  quite  a  lot 
for  her  father-in-law.  The  little  boys  had  been  helpful  even  though  they 
are  still  small. 

Promised  to  send  her  a  check  as  soon  as  the  birds  were  sold.  Left  some 
magazines. 

Stopped  at  the  school  to  see  the  two  boys.  Mrs.  R.  had  said  they  would  be 
very  much  disappointed  at  missing  the  visitors. 

November  30,  1925.  Wrote  Mrs.  R.  enclosing  check  for  $51.60  for  turkeys. 
Also  enclosed  copies  of  kodak  pictures  that  had  been  made  that  day. 

December  19,  1925.  Visited  at  the  home  and  returned  the  crates.  Left  a 
box  of  Christmas  things  provided  by  the  Episcopal  Sunday  School.  Mrs.  R. 
had  received  her  check  for  the  birds  and  had  immediately  used  it  as  payment 
on  her  $200  mortgage. 

Show^ed  superintendent  bulletin  on  Turkey  Raising  the  State  Department 
had  sent  her.     Said  it  had  many  good  ideas  in  it  she  hoped  to  use. 

This  leaves  only  $50  to  be  paid  before  the  house  will  be  unencumbered.  In 
addition  to  the  money  from  turkeys,  she  had  put  $50  on  it  from  the  sale  of 
her  cotton. 

It  is  hoped  that  by  July,  when  Mothers'  Aid  appropriation  for  the  new  year 
will  be  made,  that  Mrs.  R,  will  be  out  of  debt  and  able  to  "carry  on"  without 
financial  assistance. 


State  Boakd  of  Charities  and  Public  Welfare  25 

SUMMARIES   OF   ACTUAL   CASES   SHOWING   DIFFERENT    TYPES   OF 
CONSTRUCTIVE  WORK 

(Health) 

Mrs.  Greene  is  now  keeping  house  with  her  sister,  who  looks  after  the 
children  while  Mrs.  Green  works  in  Liggett  &  Myers  Tobacco  Factory.  The 
children  are  well  and  strong.  The  mother,  optimistic  and  ambitious,  is  proud 
that  she  can  support  herself  and  children. 

Three  years  ago  she  was  deserted  with  three  children  and  an  unborn  baby. 
She  scattered  her  children  with  relatives  and  only  called  for  help  at  her 
confinement.  As  the  county  has  many  agencies  working  together,  arrange- 
ments were  made  for  her  in  a  local  hospital.  As  her  health  was  bad  after 
the  birth  of  the  baby  and  the  two  children  were  in  homes  that  were  already 
crowded,  it  seemed  Wise  to  relieve  the  mother  of  all  responsibility  for  a  few 
months  in  order  that  she  might  reestablish  her  home  later.  The  children 
were  placed  in  the  Detention  Home  where  they  were  given  medical  attention 
and  the  best  of  care.  The  mother  stayed  with  an  uncle  until  she  was  able  to 
work.  She  then  got  a  job  in  Liggett  &  Myers,  rented  a  little  room,  bought 
herself  an  oil  stove  on  credit,  and  began  to  save  a  little  each  week  for  the 
time  when  she  could  have  her  children  with  her. 

In  the  meantime,  eiforts  were  continued  to  locate  the  husband.  At  the 
end  of  twelve  months  he  was  still  unfound  and  Mrs.  Green  was  put  on  the 
Mothers'  Aid  list.  Her  first  check  for  .$35  was  used  to  add  to  her  savings  to 
buy  needed  furniture.  The  Welfare  Department  contributed  some  things 
from  other  sources.  The  children,  well  and  stronger  than  ever,  were  restored 
to  a  mother  proud  and  well  and  the  home  was  more  firmly  reestablished.  For 
one  year  the  checks  for  $35  continued  to  go  to  her  and  then  the  mother  said 
she  could  do  without  them,  as  she  was  making  between  $60  and  $70  a  month. 
The  case  was  discontinued. 

(Part-Time  Work) 

Mrs.  House  is  now  living  in  her  own  home  (half  paid  for),  is  running  a 
small  hot  lunch  counter  in  the  consolidated  school  in  her  village,  clearing 
$3  or  $4  a  week  extra.  With  the  little  she  can  earn  sewing  at  home  and  with 
the  $20  a  month  she  receives  from  Mothers'  Aid  she  is  well  on  the  way  to 
independence.  Her  lunch  business  is  only  a  month  old.  Her  health  is  much 
better  and  all  the  children  are  well  nourished. 

In  January,  1924,  when  Mrs.  House  was  put  on  the  list  she  was  living  in 
three  rooms  of  an  old  house,  barely  able  to  stand  up.  The  walls  were  dark 
and  the  windows  few.  She  was  trying  to  sew  in  the  bad  light  and  make  a 
living  for  herself  and  children.  With  the  $200  insurance  left  by  her  husband 
and  constant  help  and  supervision  of  the  superintendent  of  welfare  and  the 
home  demonstration  agent,  she  has  reached  her  present  place.  By  the  time 
her  house  is  paid  for  at  the  rate  of  $6.50  per  month  she  will  be  independent. 

(Education) 

Joe,  the  oldest  boy  in  this  family,  is  a  freshman  in  college,  where  he  is 
making  his  expenses  with  the  help  of  money  saved  last  summer.  His  record 
as  a  student  and  as  a  boy  is  splendid. 

The  fifteen-year-old  girl.  Alice,  is  taking  a  business  course  and  eighth  grade 
work.     She  hopes  to  support  herself  during  the  summer. 

The  twelve-year-old  boy  makes  enough  selling  papers  out  of  school  hours 
to  clothe  himself.  The  seven  and  iive-year-olds  are  dependent.  The  mother 
with  the  help  of  $17.80  which  she  receives  from  Mothers'  Aid,  and  what  she 
makes  on  transient  roomers  and  a  little  sewing  manages  to  keep  her  home 


26  Handbook  on  Mothers'  Aid 

together.     Joe  will  work  during  the   summer  and  help  his  mother,   so  will 
Alice.     During  the  winter  they  hope  to  continue  at  school. 

Mrs.  James  received  ^'40  Mothers'  Aid  from  May,  1924,  until  June,  1925. 
Then  because  of  the  cut  in  the  appropriation  and  because  Joe  had  saved  a 
little  money  to  go  to  school  and  was  sixteen,  the  natural  reaction  was  to  take 
her  off  the  list  and  throw  the  support  of  the  family  on  the  boy,  depriving  him 
of  the  higher  education  he  is  mentally  able  to  take  to  good  advantage.  Finally 
the  county  decided  to  continue  the  case,  and  it  is  hoped  they  will  keep  the 
aid  going  at  least  for  another  year. 

(Housing) 

Mrs.  Doe  is  now  living  on  the  edge  of  town  in  a  two-room  house,  "nice 
comfortable  rooms."  She  has  recently  bought  another  bed,  additional  bed- 
ding, a  new  stove,  and  will  soon  finish  paying  for  her  cow,  which  gives  plenty 
of  milk  for  the  family  and  leaves  some  to  sell.  Dahlia  (who  was  seemingly 
so  backward)  has  been  fitted  with  glasses  and  is  already  showing  improve- 
ment. The  three  oldest  children  are  in  school.  Mrs.  Doe  makes  four  or  five 
dollars  a  week  mending  hosiery  from  the  nearby  mill. 

In  December,  1923,  when  Mrs.  Doe  was  put  on  the  Mother's  Aid  list  she  was 
living  in  a  tiny  shack  about  14  x  16  on  the  side  of  a  mountain.  Her  nearest 
neighbor — a  cousin — out  of  sight  over  the  top.  Her  husband  had  been  in 
the  insane  asj^lum  for  two  years  and  neighbors  and  relatives  had  helped  her 
out.  Her  baby  was  born  after  the  husband  went  to  the  hospital  following 
an  attack  of  flu  and  pneumonia.  She  was  brave  and  determined  to  keep  her 
children  with  her.  Though  ignorant  herself,  she  was  anxious  that  her  children 
should  have  a  chance.  The  little  cabin  was  spotless  and  as  conveniently 
arranged  as  she  could  make  it. 

The  present  condition  of  the  family  and  the  mother  is  receiving  only  $10  a 
month,  is  due  not  only  to  the  money  they  hav.^  been  receiving,  but  to  the  con- 
stant supervision  of  the  superintendent  and  the  interest  and  determination  of 
the  mother. 

(Health) 

Mrs.  Jones  lives  in  a  rural  county.  She  is  at  home  with  her  children, 
health  much  improved,  keeping  house  and  teaching  a  few  music  pupils.  She 
is  still  receiving  Mothers'  Aid  and  will  for  some  time  to  come.  Her  sixteen- 
year-old  son  works  but  makes  barely  enough  to  cover  his  own  needs.  The 
four  younger  children,  the  baby  five  j'ears  old,  are  still  dependent. 

When  this  case  was  first  presented,  Mrs.  Jones  was  suspected  of  having 
tuberculosis  and  the  application  was  held  up  until  a  physical  examination 
could  be  made.  It  was  explained  to  the  superintendent  that  if  the  examination 
showed  the  mother  should  have  sanatorium  treatment,  then  the  application 
would  have  to  be  held  up  until  the  tuberculosis  could  be  arrested.  The  ex- 
amination came  in  negative,  but  the  doctor  suggested  several  months  rest. 
This  was  explained  to  the  mother  and  her  family.  A  sister  who  had  only  two 
children  offered  to  have  Mrs.  Jones  close  up  her  house  for  two  months  and 
live  with  her.  She  agreed  to  see  that  she  rested  morning  and  afternoon  and 
had  plenty  of  nourishing  food.  The  case  was  put  on  the  Mothers'  Aid  list 
immediately  for  $30. 

(Remarriage) 

Mrs.  Duo  is  now  keeping  house  for  her  husband  and  four  children  in  a  neat 
little  home  in  an  eastern  city.  Mr.  Duo  is  an  honest,  sober  and  industrious 
citizen.     His  business  is  truck  driving  for  a  big  firm  at  $30  a  week. 

If  you  were  to  ask  Mrs.  Duo  where  she  lived  four  years  ago  she'd  tell  you 
she  was  a  widow,  left  with  nothing  in  the  world  but  her  children — living  in 


State  Boaed  of  Charities  and  Public  Welfare  27 

a  tenant  home.  It  was  bare  of  most  of  the  necessities  and  mother  and  cliil- 
dren  were  undernourished.  The  superintendent  of  welfare  found  her  and 
made  out  her  application  for  Mothers'  Aid.  This  $20  a  month  that  she  could 
count  on  enabled  her  to  rent  a  tiny  house  in  the  village  and  keep  her  children 
in  school.  The  superintendent  also  put  her  in  touch  with  the  health  officer 
and  county  nurse,  who  advised  her  about  the  children's  food.  Gradually  they 
all  improved,  looked  better,  dressed  better,  and  when  Mr.  Duo  came  to  the 
village  to  do  some  special  work  on  a  road  contract  he  was  attracted  to  her 
and  before  long  they  were  married. 

The  oldest  girl  came  back  to  her  home  county  for  a  visit  not  long  ago  and 
called  on  the  superintendent  to  thank  him  for  his  help. 


VI.    RECORDS 

Every  welfare  office,  regardless  of  its  size  and  the  value  of  business, 
should  keep : 

1.  A  general  folder,  marked  ''Mothers'  Aid,"  for  letters  on  policy, 
information,  etc. 

2.  A  bill  folder  to  keep  correspondence  in  regard  to  vouchers  and  list 
of  families  paid  each  month. 

3.  A  folder  for  fresh  blanks,  etc. 

4.  Individual  folders  for  pending,  active  and  canceled  cases.  Each 
case  folder  should  contain  application  blank,  history  sheet,  health  record 
cards,  statements  from  references,  running  history,  letters  and  expense 
accounts,  school  reports  and  health  records  of  the  individual  children, 
pictures — everything  relating  to  the  individual  case.  Whether  the  case 
is  active,  pending,  withdrawn,  or  canceled  should  be  indicated  on  the 
card  in  the  card  index. 

(See  sample  Application  Blank.) 

WORK  FOR  MOTHERS 

A  mother  left  with  the  entire  responsibility  of  a  family  of  small 
children  cannot  perform  her  highest  service  in  caring  for  and  training 
them  if  she  has  to  be  away  from  them  eight  or  ten  hours  a  day  in  order 
to  make  money  to  buy  their  food.  Mothers'  Aid  in  such  case  should 
be  sufficient  to  meet  the  financial  needs  and  to  enable  the  mother  to 
stay  at  home. 

Home  Work 

A  small  percentage  of  mothers  can  do  whole-time  work  away  from 
home,  if  there  is  an  older  woman  in  the  home  or  in  the  same  house  who 
Avill  look  after  the  children.  The  plan,  though,  is  generally  unsatisfac- 
tory as  the  hours  are  too  long  for  a  woman  to  work  and  then  come 
home  and  cook,  wash,  and  sew  for  her  family.  Efforts  should  always 
be  made  to  work  out  some  plan  by  which  the  mother  can  do  part-time 
work  outside,  or  find  work  she  can  do  in  the  home,  which  will  bring  in 
money.  Outside  interests  broaden  the  mother's  contacts  and  sustain  her 
self-respect.  She  is  not  over-taxing  her  strength  and  at  the  same  time 
she  is  doing  work  she  likes  which  benefits  herself  and  her  children. 
Three  whole  days  away  from  home,  if  children  are  well  cared  for,  or 
five  hours  a  day  each  day,  is  permissible.  The  county  superintendent 
should  know  conditions  surrounding  the  mothers  who  are  working  out- 
side, whether  the  work  rooms  are  well  lighted  and  heated  and  the  mother 
in  good  health. 


State  Board  of  Charities  and  Public  Welfare 


29 


Part  Time 


Below  are  some  types  of  work  possible  on  a  part-time  basis.     Stars 
indicate  work  done  by  mothers  on  the  State  list. 


Domestic 

*Housecleaning  by  the  day. 

*  Sewing  by  the  day. 
Washing  by  the  day. 

Miscellaneous 

^Janitor. 

*  Canvassing. 

*  Serving  hot  lunches  in  schools. 


Hotel  or  Business 

*  Counter   girl   in   cafeteria. 
*Linen  room. 

News  stand. 
Information  desk. 
Public  stenographer. 

*  Office  girl. 


(Under  canvassing  is  suggested  magazine  subscriptions,  getting  mail  orders 
for  Larkin  goods,  selling  soap,  etc.) 

The  superintendent  of  welfare,  who  is  in  touch  with  local  conditions, 
will  be  able  to  suggest  other  things  and  put  the  mother  in  touch  with 
them. 

The  field  of  remunerative  work  that  can  be  done  in  the  home  is  much 
larger.  The  following  list  is  suggestive.  Some  of  the  jobs  are  season- 
able, some  sectional.  Others  depend  on  the  energy  of  the  mothers  and 
local  conditions.     Some  depend  on  market  conditions. 


*  Boarding  children. 
*Bee  and  honey. 

Basket  making. 
*Bulbs. 

*  Chickens  and  eggs. 

*  Cakes,    pies,    sandwiches    (sold    on 

special    days    in    schools,    offices, 
drug  stores,  etc.). 
Canning,  preserving,  pickling. 
*Crates  (for  berries). 

*  Christmas  greens. 
'■'Children's  clothes. 

Dolls. 

*  Dried  fruits. 

*  Embroidery. 

*Flowers    (fresh  or  artificial). 
Herbs. 


*Music  lessons. 

Millinery   (cleaning  and  dying). 
*Pigs. 

Patch  and  repair  work  for  business 
women. 

*  Quilting. 

*  Strawberry  picking. 
Smocks. 

*Turkey  raising. 

Tomato  growing. 

Trucking. 

Weaving. 
*Washing  towels  for  barber  shop. 

*  Washing  for  family. 
Washing  undertakers  gloves. 

^Washing  for  hotel  in  small  town. 


Christmas  Greens 

Everywhere  protest  is  being  made  against  the  careless  destruction  of 
our  holly,  trailing  cedar,  mistletoe,  galax,  spruce  and  pine.  The  constant 
decrease  is  running  the  prices  up  higher  each  year.  Any  mother  who 
owns  land  where  any  of  these  evergreens  grow  has  a  business  right  at  her 
door  which  she  can  develop  into  a  permanent  industry  of  real  value  with 
a  little  care.  Instead  of  ruthlessly  destroying  the  trees  she  can  cut  prop- 
erly and  preserve  her  source  of  income.  "Holly  should  be  cut  with  a 
sharp  ax,  toward  the  tips  of  the  branches,  and  not  more  than  twenty-five 
per  cent  of  the  leaf  surface  should  be  taken  each  year." 


30  Handbook  on  Motheks'  Aid 

Boarding  Homes 

Boarding  cliildren,  dependent  cMldren  needing  care  at  tlie  liands  of 
the  superintendent  of  welfare,  is  one  way  a  few  mothers  are  making 
extra  money.  It  is  essential  that  the  superintendent  know  the  mother, 
and  also  the  child  he  wants  to  place.  'No  risk  must  be  run  of  carrying 
contagious  disease,  or  delinquent  tendencies  into  a  normal  home.  Well 
managed  Mothers'  Aid  boarding  homes  could  help  solve  the  problem  of 
temporary  care  of  children  in  several  counties. 

Motor 

If  the  mother  takes  in  washing  (and  lives  in  town)  she  should  have 
an  electric  washing  machine,  even  if  she  has  to  buy  it  on  the  installment 
plan. 

If  she  does  sewing,  her  room  should  be  well  lighted  and,  if  possible,  she 
should  have  an  electric  motor  for  her  machine. 

INDIVIDUALIZING  MOTHERS'  AID 

The  greatest  opportunity  open  to  counties  doing  Mothers'  Aid  work 
is  to  individualize  the  work  in  their  counties.  This  is  an  age  of  stand- 
ardization. Standards  should  serve  only  as  foundations,  the  best  work 
is  that  which  goes  beyond  standards. 

Few  homes  investigated  for  aid  will  perhaps  come  up  even  to  the 
minimum  standards  suggested  under  "Grants  for  Mothers,"  but  every 
home  should  approximate  them  at  least  before  the  family  has  been  on 
the  list  a  year. 

The  State  Department  sends  each  mother  on  the  list  a  letter  as  soon 
as  her  case  is  approved,  calling  attention  to  the  fact  that  she  has  been 
found  worthy  and  explaining  her  responsibility  in  the  contract.  The 
State  office  gives  the  name  of  each  mother  to  the  State  Board  of  Health 
that  the  mother  may  get  the  Health  Bulletin.  On  different  occasions 
bulletins  on  health,  gardening,  poultry,  nutrition,  etc.,  have  been  sent 
also. 

How  well  and  rapidly  the  work  is  done  will  depend  largely  on  how 
understandingly  and  successfully  the  county  superintendent  has  surveyed 
his  field  and  generaled  the  social  forces  at  his  command. 

It  is  impossible  to  take  up  each  county  in  detail  and  tell  what  each 
has  done.  While  some  have  been  careless  about  the  details  of  the  work 
we  have  no  convincing  evidence  that  all  mothers  and  children  aided  have 
not  benefited  by  this  fund.  ISTaturally,  the  more  urban  counties  offer 
more  agencies  that  can  help  supply  all  the  needs  of  a  normal  family,  but 
rural  counties  frequently  have  unsuspected  agencies  for  help  if  they  will 
only  discover  them  and  ask  their  cooperation. 

Buncombe  County  ties  up  its  Mothers'  Aid  work  with  the  juvenjle  court 
work.  The  law  provides  for  such  coordination,  and  Asheville,  with  its  well 
organized  juvenile  court,  is  in  a  position  to  set  the  fashion.  "The  best  way 
to  keep  the  child  out  of  court  is  to  keep  the  mother  in  the  home." 


State  Boakd  of  Charities  and  Public  Welfare  31 

Forsyth  County,  haviug  thirteen  mothers  on  the  active  list  and  three  former 
recipients  of  aid,  organized  a  Mothers'  Aid  Club  in  October,  1924.  This  club 
has  been  fostered  by  the  Woman's  Club  and  Rotary  Club.  The  Associated 
Charities,  Salvation  Army,  Y.  W.  C.  A.,  and  other  organizations  have  helped 
make  it  a  success.  The  home  demonstration  agent  has  met  with  the  club  and 
been  of  greatest  assistance  in  demonstrating  wholesome  and  attractive  foods. 
One  of  the  city  papers  sends  a  free  subscription  to  each  mother. 

Guilford  County  has  taken  advantage  of  its  tubercular  sanatorium  with 
great  benefit.  In  two  cases  in  that  county  the  men  of  the  family  with  active 
tuberculosis  wer©  placed  in  the  county  institution — the  wife  in  one  case,  the 
mother  in  the  other,  put  on  the  Mothers'  Aid  list.  In  one  of  these  families 
the  husband  is  now  self-supporting  and  the  family  off  the  list.  In  the  other, 
the  eighteen-year-old  boy,  an  arrested  case,  is  at  home  doing  light  work,  but 
not  able  yet  to  assume  the  entire  support  of  his  mother  and  little  sisters. 

All  counties  with  whole-time  health  officers  and  nurses  get  physical  examina- 
tions made  before  they  send  in  their  applications  and  then  have  defects 
attended  to  as  quickly  as  possible. 

In  Ashe,  Haywood  and  Person  counties  the  Mothers'  Aid  work  is  done  by 
the  board  of  welfare.  In  Ashe  and  Person  one  member  serves  as  field  agent. 
In  Person  a  committee  from  the  Woman's  Club  works  with  the  part-time 
probation  officer. 

In  Warren  County,  where  there  is  no  welfare  officer,  the  social  worker  from 
the  mills  makes  the  investigations  and  does  the  visiting  at  the  request  of  the 
county  board  of  welfare  and  commissioners. 

Avery's  v/ork  is  done  by  the  judge  of  the  juvenile  court. 

Alleghany,  Bertie.  Bladen,  Caswell,  Chowan,  Clay.  Dare,  Graham.  Hertford, 
Lincoln,  Madison,  Northampton,  Pender,  and  Scotland  "carry  on"  through  the 
superintendents  of  schools. 

Gaston  County  is  keeping  a  mother  on  the  list  that  the  seventeen-year-old 
son,  an  ambitious  boy,  may  take  a  college  course — for  which  he  has  saved  up 
the  money. 

Johnston  County,  with  the  aid  of  the  home  demonstration  agent,  is  helping 
a  mother  to  run  the  school  lunch  room  as  a  start  toward  independence.  Every 
mother  in  the  county  receives  all  the  latest  household  bulletins  supplied  by  the 
Department  of  Agriculture. 

In  only  a  few  counties  are  the  superintendents  asking  the  mothers  to  keep 
accurate  records  of  income  and  exi^enditure  and  going  over  the  accounts  with 
them.  It  is  hoped  that  more  and  more  this  very  important  bit  of  work  will 
be  developed. 

Mecklenburg,  Robeson  and  Durham  each  has  a  Negro  mother  on  its  list. 
These  mothers  come  up  to  the  standards  of  mothers  in  the  State  as  a  whole 
and  are  doing  their  part  in  training  their  children. 

Many  superintendents  correspond  with  and  visit  other  counties  in  an  effort 
to  get  and  give  new  ideas.  This  policy  is  a  great  help  in  improving  the  work 
all  over  the  State,  and  it  is  hoped  it  will  grow  into  a  custom. 

In  no  county  has  the  work  been  as  thoroughly  organized — that  is,  all  the 
helpful  social  forces  brought  to  focus — as  will  be  done  later.  The  growing 
demands  of  the  work  will  gradually  prove  the  necessity  of  bringing  all  the 
social  resources  of  the  county  to  focus  through  the  welfare  officer. 


I 


32  Handbook  on  Mothers'  Aid 


VACATIONS 


l^o  class  of  women  work  as  long  hours  and  with  as  little  outside  inter- 
ests as  mothers,  and  yet  no  class  ever  gets  so  little  vacation.  It  is  hoped 
that  some  county  may  get  interested  in  this  phase  of  the  work  and  make 
some  plans  by  which  the  Mothers'  Aid  mothers  may  get  at  least  one 
week's  vacation  a  year.  The  children  might  be  sent  to  relatives  or 
friends,  girls'  and  boys'  camps,  together  or  separately,  and  the  mother  go 
on  some  little  trip,  or  she  may  prefer  to  stay  quietly  at  home  and  do 
as  she  pleases.  Mothers  and  children  would  all  be  better  off  for  some 
such  arrangement. 

Women's  organizations  of  various  kinds  might  be  interested  in  this 
field  of  work  and  try  out  some  plans. 


VII.    FINANCIAL  REPORT 

Tliougli  the  people  of  the  State,  as  evidenced  by  their  legislative  vote, 
wanted  Mothers'  Aid,  their  ideas  about  it  were  very  vagiie.  To  many 
it  was  synonymous  wdth  "poor  relief."  Others  thought  it  applied  to 
old  ivomen  deserted  by  their  grown  children.  Many  had  an  Mea  that 
any  woman,  regardless  of  her  character,  whose  husband  had  run  away 
for  a  short  time  or  who  was  in  jail  for  thirty  days  or  on  a  chain-gang, 
should  immediately  be  handed  out  sufficient  cash  to  squander  as  she 
pleased.  To  get  over  to  the  public,  even  the  intelligent  public,  the  ideas 
of  definite,  constructive  work  set  forth  in  this  little  handbook  takes  time 
and  patience.  Unless  Mothers'  Aid  is  granted  only  after  careful  and 
thorough  study  of  the  family  and  its  needs  and  that  family  aided  in  a 
friendly  manner  to  solve  its  problems  on  the  way  to  independent  living 
then  the  fund  should  be  revoked.  Enough  can  be  done  under  the  old 
style  "out-door  poor  relief"  to  increase  pauperism. 

July,  1923,  to  July,  1924 

Because  Mothers'  Aid  was  nevs^  and  the  machinery  had  to  be  set  ap 
only  188  cases  were  approved  during  the  fiscal  year,  July,  1923-24,  and 
$104-19.66  used  of  the  $50,000  available  from  the  State  alone. 

These  figures  do  not  state  the  facts.  Of  the  sixty-seven  counties  ad- 
ministering Mothers'  Aid,  eleven  were  using  all  of  their  quotas,  and, 
in  addition,  calling  on  civic  organizations  and  churches  to  carry  other 
families  that  were  eligible.  One  county  was  aiding  thirty  eligible 
mothers  in  the  same  manner  as  it  was  its  Mothers'  Aid  mothers,  but  not 
on  county  and  State  funds.  Another  county  had  a  waiting  list  of 
fifteen.  Still  others  had  from  one  to  ten  mothers  they  wanted  to  put 
on  the  list. 

Again  the  mere  figures  do  not  state  the  facts.  Many  counties  were 
making  smaller  grants  than  the  mothers  needed  and  smaller  than  the 
superintendent  and  the  State  office  thought  wise.  It  takes  time  to  prove 
that  "penny  wise  is  often  dollar  dense." 

Still  again  the  figures  are  misleading.  The  more  progressive  counties, 
with  whole-time  superintendents  of  welfare,  were  the  first  to  take  advan- 
tage of  Mothers'  Aid.  The  others  came  in  slowly.  Often  it  was  neces- 
sary for  the  State  Director  to  spend  days  in  a  county  visiting  prospective 
cases,  talking  with  relatives  and  county  officials,  lawyers,  etc.,  to  get  the 
work  started.  Because  this  one  agent  from  the  State  office  had,  in  addi- 
tion to  the  Mothers'  Aid  administration  work  and  field  w^ork,  all  the 
general  case  w^ork  of  the  State  Department  and  only  part-time  steno- 
graphic help,  it  was  impossible  to  visit  all  the  counties  asking  for  help 
within  the  year. 


34  Handbook  on  Mothers'  Aid 

July,  1924,  to  July,  1925 

Between  July,  1924,  and  July,  1925,  the  work  grew  surely,  thougli 
slowly.  One  hundred  and  twenty-four  new  cases  received  aid  to  the 
amount  of  $24,710.09  from  the  State  alone,  or  more  than  double  the 
first  year's  work. 

The  Legislature  of  1925  cut  the  appropriation  from  $50,000  to  $30,000 
and  further  reduced  that  by  the  five  per  cent  cut  to  $28,500.  Even 
though  the  law  was  amended  so  that  counties  desiring  to  administer  the 
fund  must  sign  a  contract  so  stating,  seventy-six  counties  signed  and  the 
$28,500  had  to  be  apportioned  among  them.  This  cut  the  appropria- 
tions of  the  counties  down  to  two-thirds  of  their  former  grants  and 
necessitated  the  checking  oif  or  reducing  of  many  cases. 

July,  1935,  to  January,  1926 

In  the  half  year  between  July,  1925,  and  January,  1926,  only  thirty- 
five  new  cases  have  been  added  and  $11,320.41  used.  Only  seven  counties 
of  the  seventy-six  who  signed  agreements  have  failed  to  use  their  quotas. 
There  are  six  cases  pending  now.  With  the  addition  of  these,  it  is  confi- 
dently believed  that  every  dollar  available  will  be  used  except  in  the 
few  counties  that  have  failed  to  live  up  to  their  contracts  and  so  have 
kept  the  appropriations  assigned  to  them  from  their  purpose.  These 
amounts  will  come  back  into  the  Mothers'  Aid  fund  for  redistribution 
in  July. 

With  the  interest  in  the  work  growing  steadily  and  understandingly, 
it  is  believed  that  all  the  appropriation  available  for  1926-27  will  be 
used. 

MOTHERS'    AID   VOUCHERS 

The  law  states  that  the  county  should  pay  each  mother  on  the  list, 
each  month,  the  amount  approved  by  county  and  State.  The  State  is 
required  to  reimburse  the  county  quarterly  one-half  the  amount  advanced. 

Three  Copies. — The  State  office  mails  out  to  each  superintendent  of 
public  welfare  in  counties  administering  Mothers'  Aid  three  copies  of 
the  voucher  form  early  in  the  last  month  of  the  quarter.  The  super- 
intendent's duty  is  to  go  over  the  voucher  and  see  that  the  names  and 
amounts  recorded  in  the  State  office  correspond  with  his  list,  correct 
mistakes  found,  see  that  the  blanks  are  properly  signed,  and  return  all 
three  copies  to  the  State  Department. 

As  some  counties  pay  bills  on  the  first  and  some  on  the  last  of  the 
month,  the  vouchers  trickle  in  all  during  the  month.  It  is  requested 
that  the  superintendent  see  that  they  are  signed  as  soon  as  the  bills  are 
paid  and  returned  promptly  to  the  State  office. 


VIII.    GRANTS  TO  MOTHERS 

To  make  Mothers'  Aid  work  tlie  splendid  type  of  Child  Welfare  it 
should  be^  grants  must  be  adequate.  "The  physical  basis  of  life  must 
be  the  foundation  for  all  high  qualities  of  the  spirit;  the  grant,  there- 
fore, must  be  such  that  the  mother  can  give  to  her  children  a  minimum 
of  adequate  nurture  whether  this  means  full  or  partial  support." 

Inadequate  Grants — 

1.  Defeat  the  purpose  of  the  laiu.  If  the  regular  monthly  aid  is  so 
small  that  the  mother  continues  to  overwork  and  is  nervous  and  irritable, 
the  children^  undernourished  and  wandering  the  streets,  church  societies 
and  other  agencies  still  handing  out  "old  clothes  and  cold  vittles,"  then 
the  county  and  State  are  not  building  up  but  destroying  family  life. 

2.  DeWioraUze  the  family.  If  the  family  is  not  responsible  to  the 
Welfare  Department  for  all  funds  above  what  the  individuals  make, 
then  there  is  the  danger  of  different  members  of  the  family  playing  their 
various  sources  of  income  against  each  other  and  of  becoming  sophisti- 
cated paupers  in  the  end  rather  than  good  citizens. 

3.  Make  constructive  work  impossible.  Inadequate  grants  mean  un- 
dernourishment, over  work,  which  in  turn  means  tuberculosis,  anemia, 
pellagra,  etc.  The  family  is  broken  up,  in  the  end,  as  effectively  as  if 
the  children  had  been  removed  or  allowed  to  starve. 

4.  Lowers  local  standards  of  relief.  Rural  counties  often  receive  their 
first  ideas  of  family  case  work  from  the  Mothers'  Aid  applications. 
Unless  high  standards  of  assistance,  both  financial  and  supervisory,  are 
set,  if  local  boards  of  welfare,  commissioners,  etc.,  are  not  educated  to 
high  standards,  then  Mothers'  Aid  is  only  one  of  many  agencies  making 
paupers.     A  $10  grant  is  not  made  into  $30  by  calling  it  Mothers'  Aid. 

5.  Making  the  appropriation  ''go  as  far  as  possible"  is  false  economy. 
All  widows  have  not  an  equal  right  to  share  in  Mothers'  Aid.  The  law 
sees  to  that.  Mothers'  Aid  is  only  three  years  old  in  l^orth  Carolina — 
still  in  the  experimental  stage.  Each  case  should  be  carefully  worked 
out  according  to  the  suggestions  given  in  this  handbook  and  followed 
closel;f. 

Adequate  grants  are  possible  only  when  "the  grant  makes  up  the 
deficit  in  the  family  budget  so  as  to  insure  wholesome  living  on  a 
minimum  wage."  "There  is  a  minimum  normal  standard  of  living 
below  which  physical  and  mental  health  and  efficiency  cannot  be  main- 
tained and  which  should  be  insured  to  every  family  regardless  of  its 
former  standard  of  life." 

THE  FAMILY  BUDGET 

No  grant  can  be  fairly  determined  until  a  careful  inventory  has  been 
made  of  the  family  income  and  of  how  far  this  income  fails  to  provide 
the  minimum  standards  for  normal  living.  The  grant  should  bridge 
the  difference  between  these  points. 


36  Handbook  on  Mothers'  Aid 

Income 

Wages.  (Count  in  wages,  or  whatever  part  of  wages  is  paid  in  by  the 
children.)  Boarders  or  lodgers.  Money  received  from  farm  produce  or  home 
work.  Regular  help  from  relatives.  Money  from  "money  crop"  last  year, 
cotton,  corn,  tobacco.     Other  sources. 

Expenditure 

Rent.  Amount  needed  for  rent,  either  at  present  place  or  better  one.  If 
in  country,  give  terms  on  which  family  rents  land — on  half  shares,  croppers, 
etc. 

Interest,  taxes  and  repairs.  If  home  is  owned,  get  value,  taxes,  repairs, 
interest  and  other  payments.  Count  these  expenses  on  a  monthly  basis.  The 
total  should  not  exceed  reasonable  house  rent  in  the  community. 

Insurance.  Members  of  family  insured  and  amounts.  If  too  excessive 
family  should  be  advised  to  reduce. 

Fwel  and  light.  Find  out  last  year's  bill  as  nearly  as  possible  and  divide 
by  twelve.  Amount  to  be  allowed  will  depend  on  local  prices  and  conditions, 
also  upon  arrangement  and  condition  of  house.  Fifty  cents  a  month  is  usually 
sufficient  for  kerosene  in  country  homes,  unless  it  is  also  used  for  cooking. 

Food.  This  is  one  of  the  most  important  items  on  the  list.  The  amount 
spent  is  frequently  hard  to  get.  If  the  mother  lives  in  a  mill  section  her  bill 
is  usually  large  and  the  money  goes  for  quickly  prepared  rather  than  nour- 
ishing food.  She  may  need  very  careful  help  for  some  time  in  learning  to 
know  and  prepare  new  foods,  more  inexpensive  and  at  the  same  time  more 
nourishing.  If  the  mother  lives  on  a  farm,  has  chickens,  eggs,  milk,  butter, 
vegetables  and  fruits,  then  her  food  bill  will  be  small  and  will  include  only 
such  things  as  flour,  meal,  tea,  cereals,  coffee,  flavorings,  and  such  things  as 
the  farm  does  not  produce.  In  cases  where  families  are  undernourished, 
special  provision  for  abundance  of  nourishing  food  should  be  made. 

Clothing.  The  last  year's  expenditure  for  clothing  should  be  known,  also 
the  amount  of  clothing  contributed  if  the  family  has  been  receiving  aid.  (Due 
allowance  should  be  made  for  increasing  size.)  If  the  family  is  not  suffi- 
ciently clad,  then  an  amount  above  that  worked  out  on  the  monthly  average 
should  be  allowed.  Whether  the  mother  sews  well  and  buys  materials  eco- 
nomically is  also  to  be  considered.  Likewise,  whether  clothes  can  be  handed 
down  from  one  child  to  another. 

Household  furnishing  and  supplies.  The  house  should  be  adequately  fur- 
nished. Much  misery  is  caused  by  the  very  absence  of  things.  There  should 
be  beds  enough  so  that  not  more  than  two  should  have  to  share  one.  ^  Chairs 
enough  for  the  family  to  sit  at  the  table  at  once ;  an  easy  chair  for  the  mother ; 
bedside  rugs ;  covering,  sheets,  and  pillow  cases — sufficient  for  warmth  and 
cleanliness.  A  good  stove  for  cooking ;  sufficient  pots,  pans  and  other  utensils 
for  cooking.  If  the  house  is  lacking  in  the  basic  essentials  for  normal  living, 
then  the  cost  of  these  things  should  be  included  in  the  budget,  so  much  each 
month  to  be  used  to  supply  these  things. 

Incidentals.  The  budget  should  cover  family  needs  and  practices,  if  suit- 
able. In  it  should  be  included  church  contributions,  recreation,  newspapers, 
postage,  magazines,  and  small  articles  needed  for  the  home. 

Health.  The  better  the  family  conditions  at  the  time  the  case  is  approved, 
the  less  need  be  allowed  for  health.  One  dollar  a  month  would  probably  be 
sufficient  for  home  remedies.  Most  counties  take  care  of  doctors  and  hospital 
bills  through  local  health  officers,  nurses,  clinics. 


I 


State  Boaed  of  Charities  and  Public  "Welfare  37 

Farm  and  garden.  Garden  seed,  implements,  cost  of  animal  and  poultry 
feed,  fertilizer,  labor,  etc.  Usually  a  year's  estimate  can  be  worked  out  and 
divided  on  a  monthly  basis. 

Sunmiary 

The  working  out  of  tlie  budget  is  frequently  tlie  first  inkling  tlie 
mother,  particularly  the  country  mother,  has  had  of  the  relation  of  cash 
money  to  the  fooa  and  other  supplies  she  grows  on  the  farm.  The 
investigation  itself  is  a  suggestion  to  the  mother  of  business  methods — 
of  the  fact  that  she  is  entering  into  a  contract  with  her  county  and 
State  in  which  she  must  bear  her  part.  Xo  superintendent  will  insist 
upon  the  family's  changing  nonessentials  in  family  routine  for  a  cut 
and  dried  budget.  A  slow  process  of  education  in  better  methods  of 
spending  the  family  income  is  usually  necessary. 

By  asking  each  mother  to  keep  a  monthly  account  in  a  notebook  (see 
suggested  -outline),  and  by  going  over  that  account  with  her  on  each 
monthly  visit,  complimenting,  suggesting  changes,  etc.,  the  mother  will 
gradually  take  pride  in  the  way  she  runs  her  house.  By  noting  foods 
bought  and  looking  at  the  children  the  superintendent  can  form  some 
ideas  as  to  whether  or  not  they  are  getting  the  right  foods. 

If  the  roads  are  bad  and  distances  great,  as  they  are  in  many  counties, 
the  superintendent  would  find  that  carrying  on  a  correspondence  with 
some  member  of  the  family  will  keep  him  in  touch  with  things.  It  will 
also  mean  a  great  deal  to  the  family  to  receive  letters  and  occasional 
magazines  or  newspapers  from  the  outside  world. 

Until  our  county  welfare  departments  have  larger  personnels,  the 
search  for  the  most  hopeful  type  of  mother  for  our  Mothers'  Aid  work 
must  continue,  the  mother  that  needs  only  financial  help  to  come  up  to 
community  standards. 

When  our  appropriations  shall  be  large  enough  for  the  urban  coun- 
ties to  have  a  worker  for  Mothers'  Aid  alone,  then  mothers  requiring 
more  personal  help,  more  education  in  the  minimum  standards  of  normal 
living,  can  be  approved. 

In  practically  every  case  that  has  been  withdrawn  or  canceled  the 
trouble  can  be  traced  back  to  poor  material  to  work  on  and  lack  of  time 
on  the  part  of  the  work,  for  supervision. 

BUDGETS 

Xo  definite  work  on  budgets  comparable  to  that  done  in  Xew  York 
and  Chicago  has  been  done  in  Xorth  Carolina.  The  standard  budget 
used  in  computing  estimates  for  household  expenses  of  any  normal  home 
is  quoted  below.  These  estimates  allow  for  nothing  beyond  the  necessi- 
ties of  life.  They  deal,  however,  with  city  life.  As  the  majority  of  our 
cases  are  rural,  and  the  families  have  rent  free,  own  farm  animals  and 
gardens,  and  wear  the  type  of  clothes  current  in  their  communities,  a 
family  could  live  well  on  less  than  is  suggested  here.  A  study  of  what 
the  necessities  of  life  actually  cost  in  other  states  will  not  come  amiss 
to  a  superintendent  who  is  interested  in  doing  a  genuine  piece  of  work. 


38 


Handbook  on  Mothers'  Aid 


SCHEDULE  FOR  ESTIMATING  FAMILY  BUDGETS  IN  MOTHERS' 
ASSISTANCE  CASES 

(Compiled  by  the  Westchester  County,  New  York,  Department  of  Child 
Welfare;  Food  Schedule  compiled  by  the  New  York  Nutrition  Council.) 
Rent.     Amount  paid. 
Fuel.     Coal : 

1.  For  one  stove,  one-half  ton  a  month.     (Amount  allowed  for.) 

2.  For  second  stove,  a  quarter  ton  a  (coal  at  the  standard  rate  per  ton 
charged  in  district)  month  additional. 

Kindling:  Not  to  exceed  $1  a  month.  (From  November  1  to  May  1  a 
second  stove  and  kindling  allowed.  During  the  remainder  of  the  year  only 
one  stove  allowed.) 

Light.  Where  kerosene  is  used,  $1  a  month.  Where  gas  is  used,  1,000  cubic 
feet  per  month  allowed  at  rate  charged  in  the  district,  plus  service  charge. 

Sundries.  One  dollar  a  month  per  person,  with  a  maximum  of  $7  for  a 
family. 


Boys  Cost 

per  Month 

Girls  Cost 

per  Month 

Age — Years 

A 

B 

A 

B 

Under    2                             _----.       ._     .. 

$        5.20 
5.42 
5.63 
5.85 
6.28 
6.72 
7.58 
9.20 
9.75 
10.83 

$        6.93 

7.15 

7.15 

7.37 

7.58 

8.02 

8.67 

11.00 

11.92 

12.78 

$        5.20 
5.20 
5.42 
5.63 
5.85 
6.28 
6.50 
7.37 
7.80 
9.10 

$        6.93 

2       "        3                     , 

6.93 

3       "        4  -  -     

6.93 

4       "         7 

6.93 

7       "         8 

7.15 

8       "         9 

7.37 

9       "       11 

7.80 

12       "       15 

8.45 

15       "       16                                          -   -- 

8.88 

Over  16                              --       --  ---  --- 

9.75 

Qualifications  for  food  allowances : 

1.  Family  of  three  or  less,  B  allowance  for  each  member. 

2.  Nursing  mother,  $13.65  (no  extra  allowance  for  baby). 
8.  Use  B  allowances  where  special  nourishment  required. 

4.  Deduct  one-fourth  allowance  for  adults  eating  lunches   regularly  away 
from  home  and  make  special  allowance  for  lunches  in  budget  estimate. 

5.  For  all  cases  in  which  B  allowance  not  recommended  in  above  qualifica- 
tions, use  A  allowance. 

6.  Allow  for  the  average  mother  $9.10  per  month. 
Clothing: 

Woman  at  work $7.50 

Woman  at  home 5.53 

Older  girl  at  work 7.50 

Older  boy  at  work 7.44 

Girl  10-14  years 4.41 

Boy  10-14  years 4.54 

Child  6-10  years 3.62 

Child  3-6  years 2.67 

Child  of  2  or  under 2.78 

Insurance.    Each  family  considered  separately. 


State  Boaed  of  Charities  and  Public  Welfare 


39 


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40  Handbook  on  Mothers'  Aid 


HEALTH 


The  health,  of  the  family  is  one  of  the  great  problems  in  Mothers'  Aid. 
In  the  majority  of  cases  the  mother  has  been  trying  to  the  limit  of  her 
strength  to  keep  her  children  with  her.  She  has  neglected  herself  and 
her  nerves  are  on  edge.  If  this  disintegrating  process  has  not  gone  too 
far^  often  the  doctor  who  examines  her  will  say  "rest  and  relief  from 
worry  about  money  matters  is  what  she  needs."  If  this  fight,  against 
odds  too  heavy  for  her^  has  gone  on  long,  there  may  be  organic  trouble 
or  incipient  trouble  that  will  take  time  and  money  to  straighten  out 
before  the  mother  is  in  condition  to  care  for  her  children.  Sometimes 
teeth,  eyes,  tonsils,  falling  arches  need  attention. 

Children  are  frequently  undernourished,  their  eyes,  teeth,  tonsils  in 
bad  condition.  Sometimes  they  are  found  to  have  incipient  tuberculosis, 
hookworm,  or  are  crippled.     (See  Constructive  Work  Examples.) 

Physical  Examinations 

If  each  county  will  have  thorough  physical  examinations  made  of  each 
member  of  the  family  before  the  grant  is  made,  much  time  and  energy 
will  be  saved.  It  is  hard  to  persuade  a  mother  already  getting  checks 
to  have  an  examination  later. 

Health  Departments 

If  the  county  has  a  whole-time  health  officer,  county  nurse,  or  both, 
the  superintendent  should  talk  with  them  about  the  Mothers'  Aid  cases 
and  get  their  help  in  examinations  and  treatment  whenever  possible. 

Physician 

If  there  is  no  county  health  ofiicer,  then  the  local  physicians  will 
generally  be  found   willing  and   able  to  help,   if   they  understand   the 

work  and  the  need. 

Specialist 

When  a  case  for  a  specialist  comes  up,  eyes,  ears,  nose,  throat,  tubercu- 
losis, etc.,  a  doctor  should  be  consulted.  His  interest  should  be  enlisted 
in  the  constructive  preventive  work  being  done  and  his  best  terms 
should  be  requested  for  the  family.  If  the  mother  can  pay  even  a  small 
amount  on  the  bill,  monthly,  it  will  be  better  for  her  than  to  accept  too 
much  from  charity. 

Hospitals 

The  superintendent  should  know  the  hospital  situation  in  his  county. 
He  should  talk  over  the  case  he  wants  admitted  and  give  the  institution 
the  sort  of  cooperation  that  he  expects  from  it. 

Clinics 

The  superintendent  should  find  out  ahead  of  time  prospective  climes 
for  eyes,  teeth,  cripples,  etc.,  and  get  patients  needing  attention  in  touch 
with  the  doctors. 


I 


State  Board  of  Charities  and  Public  Welfare  41 

To  put  motlier  and  children  in  good  physical  condition  and  keep  them 
so,  to  help  mother  financially  so  she  can  keep  her  children  in  school,  are 
the  greatest  opportunities  the  State  has  in  Mothers'  Aid  work. 

EDUCATION 

The  law  requires  that  every  child  be  kept  in  school  until  he  or  she  is 
fourteen.  The  mother  on  the  county  and  State  Mothers'  Aid  list  is 
under  double  obligation  to  do  this,  for  she  is  receiving  aid  with  this  end 
in  view.  She  should  not  have  to  oifer  as  excuse  in  cotton  and  berry 
and  tobacco  seasons  that  she  has  to  keep  them  out  to  make  money.  If 
the  county  and  State  are  helping,  they  are  under  obligations  to  help 
enough,  otherwise  they  are  breaking  their  contract. 

Whether  or  not  a  child  stays  in  school  after  he  is  fourteen  depends 
largely  on  the  child's  ability  and  the"  superintendent's  efforts.  If  the 
child  has  been  slow,  uninterested,  anxious  to  get  out  and  work,  perhaps 
further  time  spent  in  school  would  be  useless.  Effort  to  find  him  a  job 
"with  a  future"  would  be  more  worth  while.  On  the  other  hand,  an 
ambitious,  gifted,  intelligent  child  who  wants  to  continue  through  high 
school  and  college,  or  take  special  work,  should  have  an  opportunity  to 
go  on.  The  superintendent,  or  a  member  of  his  board,  should  exhaust 
every  source  of  help  to  give  the  child  his  chance. 

In  one  county  the  Kiwanis  Club  furnished  clothes  and  books  for  a 
fifteen-year-old  girl  who  wanted  the  home  economics  training  in  the 
high  school.     She  worked  in  the  summer. 

In  another  county  a  Rotarian  gave  a  boy  a  flute  and  made  arrange- 
ments for  lessons.  The  boy  worked  after  school,  on  Saturdays  and  dur- 
ing the  summer,  and  finally  paid  for  his  lessons  himself. 

In  still  another  family  the  superintendent  got  several  Sunday  School 
classes  and  individuals  to  finance  a  sixteen-year-old  girl  at  a  boarding 
school  for  a  year.  If  she  makes  a  good  record  this  year,  further  plans 
will  be  made. 

A  boy  of  fifteen  wanted  to  finish  high  school  and  then  work  as  ap- 
prentice in  a  machine  shop.  He  could  not  learn  Latin.  A  talk  with 
the  principal  helped.  The  boy  dropped  Latin,  concentrated  on  his  other 
studies,  worked  Saturdays  and  in  summer,  finished  his  course,  and  is 
now  doing  well  as  an  apprentice  and  helping  his  mother. 

This  question  of  "vocational  guidance"  is  a  grave  responsibility  in 
our  work.  It  is  the  business  of  the  county  and  State  departments  of 
welfare  to  know  the  abilities  and  opportunities  and  desires  of  the  chil- 
dren receiving  aid  and  to  steer  them  in  the  right  way.  "The  greatest 
adjustments  which  the  individual  makes  in  life  are  to  love  and  to  work. 
If  the  children  under  our  care  are  nurtured  and  reared  to  their  working 
years  in  good  homes,  and  if  they  are  aided  in  finding  jobs  suited  to 
their  individual  capacities  for  self-expression,  we  will  have  done  our 
part  in  giving  them  a  foundation  for  that  greatest  of  the  arts,  the  art 
of  developing  one's  own  character." 


4:2  Handbook  on  Mothers'  Aid 

Tile  tendency  to  take  a  motlier  off  the  list  as  soon  as  she  lias  one  or 
more  children  above  fourteen  is  one  tliat  should  be  eliminated.  Children 
above  twelve  and  fourteen  should  realize,  as  much  as  possible,  the  home 
situation  and  be  trained,  to  do  their  part  of  the  work  and  to  make  enough 
to  buy  their  own  clothes  if  possible,  but  no  group  of  county  officials 
should  throw  the  entire  support  of  a  family  on  the  older  children.  Too 
many  times  such  a  policy  results  in  the  children's  leaving  home  and 
'Agoing  on  their  own." 


IX.    SUMMARY  OF  206  CASES  OF  MOTHERS'  AID 

(All  the  approved  cases  up  to  August  15,  1924.) 

The  following  study,  made  by  Mr.  George  Lawrence,  of  the  School  of 
Public  Welfare  at  the  University  of  I^orth  Carolina,  was  first  printed 
in  the  Biennial  Keport  of  the  State  Board  of  Charities  and  Public 
Welfare  to  the  General  Assembly  of  1925.  Because  the  study  is  still 
true  of  present  conditions  in  Mothers'  Aid  families,  it  is  reprinted  here. 

During  the  first  year  of  operation  of  Mothers'  Aid  in  N'orth  Carolina, 
or  to  be  more  exact,  from  August  1,  1923,  when  the  first  case  was  ap- 
proved up  to  August  15,  1924,  a  total  of  206  cases  were  approved  by 
the  State  Director  of  Mothers'  Aid. 

Information  on  these  206  cases  was  tabulated,  classified,  and  summa- 
rized in  order  that  it  might  be  made  clear  just  who  were  the  people  being 
assisted  and  what  were  some  of  the  pertinent  facts  regarding  their  social 
and  economic  status. 

A.  Localities  of  Families: 

Chart  1  shows  clearly  that  our  problem  with  Mothers'  Aid  in  J^orth 
Carolina  is  largely  a  rural  one.  This,  however,  is  to  be  expected  when 
we  consider  that  in  spite  of  the  many  people  engaged  in  manufacturing 
ours  is  still  primarily  a  rural  population. 

"City"  defined  as  a  place  of  20,000  population  or  over. 
"Town"  defined  as  an  incorporated  place  of  under  20,000. 
"Rural"  defined  as  all  unincorporated  places. 

City  19 

Town 71 

Rural    116 


206 


L o c 9X\X\ e s     of    Tarn Vl *\ e s 


B.  Ages  of  Mothers: 

The  mothers  .being  assisted  range  in  ages  from  22  to  50  years,  averag- 
ing 35.2  although  34  is  the  most  frequent  age.  Thus  it  is  seen  we  are 
dealing  with  women  who  are  mostly  in  the  prime  of  life  at  the  stage  of 
maturity  where  we  could  expect  them  to  give  of  their  best  for  their 
children. 


44 


Handbook  on  Mothers'  Aid 


20 
19 
18 
17 
16 
15 
14 
13 

tn 

I   10 
*»    8 

Z    5 

4 
5 

1 


il 
II    I 


III! 


mil  nil  I II I II  HUM 


22  Z3  24  25  26  27  28  29  30  51  32  33  34  35  36  37  38  39  40  41  Al  43  44  4546  47  48  49  50 

Range — from  22  to  50  years. 
Average  age — 35.2  years. 

C.  Length  of  Mothers'  Residence  in  North  Carolina: 

Our  law  requires  a  residence  in  the  State  of  3  years,  but  it  is  interest- 
ing to  note  tlie  exceptionally  liigli  percentage  of  mothers  who  have  spent 
their  entire  lives  in  ^N^orth  Carolina.  Kot  a  single  mother  is  foreign- 
born,  and  practically  all  of  the  13  per  cent  not  natives  of  ISTorth  Caro- 
lina came  from  the  adjoining  states  of  South  Carolina  and  Virginia. 

Lived  in  North  Carolina  for  life 179 

Lived  in  North  Carolina  21  years  or  over 11 

Lived  in  North  Carolina  11  to  20  years 5 

Lived  in  North  Carolina  6  to  10  years 5 

Lived  in  North  Carolina  5  years  or  under 6 

Total 206 


^otWers'  "ResVa 


esid.ence    «»v 


N.C. 


Life      srzi 

2 1  v^rs.  or  ove,r    5  7%  \ 


6-10 


y5 


zktM 


^Atr   37o 


State  Boakd  of  Chakities  and  Public  Welfare  45 

D.  Church  Affiliations  of  Mothers: 

Because  of  the  variations  of  standards  as  to  just  wliat  constitutes 
cliurcli  membership,  affiliations  were  listed  rather  than  memberships. 
Only  5  of  the  206  mothers,  or  about  2  per  cent,  have  no  church  affilia- 
tion. 

Denomination  No.  of  Mothers 

Baptist  95 

Free  Will  Baptist 12 

Primitive  Baptist - 3 

Methodist 49 

Methodist  Protestant : 5 

Presbyterian  8 

Christian    7 

Episcopalian   4 

A.  R.  P 3 

Reformed 3 

Holiness  3 

Moravian 3 

Lutheran    2 

Quaker  2 

Morman    1 

Church  of  Living  God 1 

No  affiliation  listed 5 

Total 206 


rietKodist       24Z 

CKrtst\a.n 

Otix  ers-all        a  a  1,07  v//V/'/7777nn 

Tfxone 

E.  Occupations  of  Husbands: 

Since  over  half  of  the  mothers  live  in  rural  localities,  the  fact  that 
50  per  cent  of  the  husbands  were  farmers  is  a  logical  sequence.  To  many 
the  low  percentage  of  husbands  who  were  cotton-mill  workers,  5  per 
cent,  will  be  surprising. 


46 


Handbook  on  Mothers'  Aid 


Occupation  No.  of  husbands 

Farmer 103 

Carpenter    16 

Cotton  Mill  11 

Mechanic  11 

Merchant  7 

Sawmill   4 

Day  Laborer  4 

Painter 3 


Occupation 

Barber   

No.  of  hus'bands 
.       3 

Furniture  Factory  .. 
Clerk  

3 

Electrician  . 

3 

Plumber  -.. 

2 

Preacher 

<■) 

Railroad  Work 

2 

One  each  of  the  following : 
Blacksmith 
Bookkeeper 
Brick  Mason 
Car  Cleaner 
Car  Repairer 
Carpenter  and  Policeman 
Fisherman 
Garage  Helper 
Hospital  Attendant 
Insurance  Agent 

Insurance  Agent  and  Jitney  Driver 
Interior  Decorator 
Iron  Worker  and  "Hot  Dog"  Stand 
Jitney  Driver 
Jobber 


Laundryman 
Lumberman 
Mail  Carrier 
Mattress  Maker 
Meat  Market 
Planing  Mill 
Policeman 
PostofRce  Clerk 
Railroad  Conductor 
Road  Construction 
Teacher 

Tobacco  Factory 
Transfer  Work 
Undertaker 


Uccotoatvons      of 


H  Os\)  aLtvAs 


'^'^f. 


°'H 

\ 

?* 

o 

-4 

State  Boaed  of  Charities  and  Public  Welfare 


47 


F.  Marital  Status  of  Mothers: 

Although  Mothers'  Aid  is  primarily  for  the  family  where  the  mother 
is  a  widow,  we  find  that  41,  or  20  per  cent,  of  the  husbands  are  still 

living. 

165  widows 
41  have  husbands  living 

206 
Cjf   T"l     Lwmo   nus\>an<ls 


6  Di6aUe<l 

6  Insa^ne  A-j^  Ay\A/V 


2.  Dwox'ce'd 


/f/f 


G.  Causes  of  Deaths  of  Hushands: 

A  glance  at  the  following  table  of  causes  of  deaths  of  165  husbands 
reveals  the  high  percentage  of  deaths  from  preventable  diseases. 


Causes  of  death  No.  of  hushands 

Pneumonia 24 

Influenza  19 

Tuberculosis  17 

Accident  15 

Bright's  Disease  11 

Typhoid  .' 8 

Murdered  6 

Heart  Trouble 6 

Paralysis  6 

Cancer 6 

One  each  of  the  following : 
Acute  Indigestion 
Apoplexy 
Bronchial  Asthma 
Congestion  of  Brain 
Dysentery 
Encephalitis 
Gas  Gangrene 
Malarial  Fever 


Causes  of  death  No.  of  hushands 

Dropsy  6 

Meningitis  4 

Appendicitis   4 

Kidney  Trouble  4 

Diabetes  3 

Blood  Poisoning  3 

Drowned    3 

High  Blood  Pressure 2 

Not  Known 3 


Pleurisy 

Ptomaine  Poisoning 

Rupture 

Tumor  of  Brain 

Typhoid  Pneumonia 

Ulcer  of  Stomach 

Suicide 


48  Handbook  on  Mothers'  Aid 

H.  (a)  Length  of  Time  Between  Death  of  165  Husbands  and  Date  of 
Approval  of  Application: 

Before  the  passage  of  the  Mothers'  Aid  Law  many  of  our  widows 
struggled  along  for  years  after  the  death  of  their  hushands  without  the 
advantages  of  State  and  county  assistance,  hut  it  is  gratifying  to  find 
that  in  nearly  one-third  of  the  cases  aid  has  heen  given  Avithin  a  year  of 
the  loss  of  the  family  breadwinner.  As  the  time  wears  on  and  the  full 
value  of  Mothers'  Aid  is  appreciated  it  is  hoped  that  assistance  will  he 
forthcoming  in  most  cases  within  a  few  months  of  the  deaths  of  the 
husbands,  thus  approaching  a  form  of  social  insurance. 

Length  of  time  No.  of  cases  Length  of  time  No.  of  cases 

Under  1  year 48  5  to  6  years 9 

1  to  2  years 45  6  to  7  years 5 

2  to  3  years 21  7  to  8  years 2 

3  to  4  years 18  8  to  9  years 3 

4  to  5  years 14 

Average  length  of  time,  1  year  and  11  months. 

(h)  Length  of  Time  Between  Desertion,  Disability,  Imprisonmnent,  In- 
sanity, or  Divorce  of  Jfl  Husbands  and  Date  of  Approval  of 
Application: 

Length  of  time  No.  of  cases  Length  of  time  No.  of  cases 

Of  16  Deserting  Husbands  of  11  Imprisoned  Husbands 

Under  1  year 4  ^^^(jer  1  year 8 

1  to  2  years 3  .  i  to  2  years 1 

2  to  3  years 4  2  to  3  years --     2 

3  to  4  years 1 

4  to  5  years 2  Of  6  Insane  Husbands 

6  to  7  years 1      1  to  2  years 2 

No  date  of  desertion 1      2  to  3  years 3 

6  to  7  years 1 


Of  0  Disabled  Husbands 
Under  1  year 1 


Of  2  Divorced  Husbands 


2  to  3  years 3      2  to  3  years 1 

3  to  4  years.. 2      5  to  6  years 1 

Average  length  of  time : 

Desertions— 2  years,  21/2  months ;  disabled— 2  years,  3  months ;  impris- 
oned—101/2  months;  insane— 2  years,  7%  months;  divorced— 3  years, 
6  months. 

The  Division  of  Mothers'  Aid  has  ruled  that  no  deserted  mother  may 
apply  under  one  year,  and  only  after  every  effort  has  been  made  to  re- 
quire the  husband  to  assume  his  financial  obligations. 

From  the  above  figures  it  would  seem  that  the  families  of  imprisoned 
men  come  most  quickly  to  our  attention.  It  is  possible,  however,  that 
at  a  later  date,  when  a  greater  number  of  cases  are  tabulated,  that  the 
results  will  disapprove  this  assumption. 


State  Board  of  Charities  and  Public  "Welfare  49 

/.   (a)   Calendar  Year  of  Deaths  of  165  Husbands: 

The  following  two  tables  simply  augment  the  preceding  two,  although 
by  means  of  them  it  may  be  possible  to  better  estimate  the  extent  of  our 
problem  for  the  next  year  or  two. 

1924 7      1919 10 

1923  41      1918 9 

1922  44      1917  5 

1921  21      1916  2 

1920 23      1915  3 

(h)   Calendar  Year  When  Jfl  Living  Husbands  Ceased  Supporting 
Fa,milies: 

1924 4      1920 4 

1923 11       1919  3 

1922  7      1917  2 

1921 9      No  date  given 1 

/.  Children  Under  IJf.  Years: 

By  a  mere  coincidence  this  study  includes  exactly  1,000  persons  given 
assistance  through  Mothers'  Aid,  since  there  are  794  children  under  14 
in  addition  to  the  206  mothers.  It  might  be  thought  that  the  average 
number  of  children  under  14  per  family  would  be  higher  than  3.9.  The 
length  of  time  from  marriage  to  the  cessation  of  the  support  of  the 
husband  in  a  large  measure  accounts  for  this  figure. 

Total  number  in  206  families 794 

Average  per  family 3.9 

Range  per  family 1  to  8 

Number  of  families  with  one  child  under  14 3 

Number  of  families  with  two  children  under  14 33 

Number  of  families  with  three  children  under  14 42 

Number  of  families  with  four  children  under  14 68 

Number  of  families  with  five  children  under  14 38 

Number  of  families  with  six  children  under  14 18 

Number  of  families  with  seven  children  under  14 3 

Number  of  families  with  eight  children  under  14 1 

,      Total  families  206 

K.  Children  IJf  Years  Old  and  Over: 

In  over  half  of  the  78  families  where  there  were  children  14  years  old 
or  over  there  was  only  one  such  child  per  family.  This  indicates  that 
these  families  in  most  cases  cannot  count  on  much  financial  help  from 
the  older  children  simply  because  there  are  not  enough  of  them,  neither 
are  they  of  sufficient  age  to  replace  the  income  which  formerly  was  pro- 
vided by  their  fathers. 


50 


Handbook  on  Mothers'  Aid 


In  78  of  the  206  families  there  were  children  14  years  or  over, 

totaling  130. 
Average  per  family  of  these  78  families,  1.7. 
Range,  1  to  5. 

Number  of  families  with  one  child  14  or  over 43 

Number  of  families  with  two  children  14  or  over 25 

Number  of  families  with  three  children  14  or  over 6 

Number  of  families  with  four  children  14  or  ovei'. 1 

Number  of  families  with  five  children  14  or  over 3 

Total  families  78 


L.  Children  Born  After  Death  or  Nonsupport  of  Husbands: 

Sometliing  of  the  hardships  which  have  been  endured  by  many  of 
these  mothers  is  shown  by  the  tables  below.  In  over  22  per  cent  of  all 
the  206  families  a  child  was  born  after  the  husband  had  been  taken 
away  by  death,  or  by  circumstances  which  caused  his  nonsupport.  There 
were  51  such  children  in  a  total  of  46  families.  ISTone  of  these  children 
are  illegitimate. 

In  30  families  one  child  was  born  after  death  of  husband. 
In  2  families  twins  were  born  after  death  of  husband. 
Total  of  34  children  born  after  death  of  husband. 
In  5  families  one  child  was  born  after  desertion  of  husband. 
In  3  families  one  child  was  born  after  imprisonment  of  husband. 
In  3  families  one  child  was  born  after  insanity  of  husband. 
In  2  families  one  child  was  born  after  disablement  of  husband. 
In  1  familj^  4  children  (triplets  and  one  other)  were  born  after  disablement 
of  husband. 

Total  of  17  children. 


T^rt\\\*ves    wKere  CKVliren  wcre'BorYv  af t 


[eir 


I)eitk    or  Mcn-SUjpport   of  Hus^a^nAs 
(None  of  these  children  dxe  \lle<i'iVimd.-ie) 


State  Board  of  Charities  and  Public  Welfare 


51 


M.  Occuputions  of  Mothers  Other  Than  Housekeeping: 

Among  tlie  occupations  of  the  mothers^  farming  plays  a  major  part. 
And  this  in  most  cases  means  no  less  than  it  would  if  the  term  were 
applied  to  a  man — plowing  the  land,  working  the  crops,  and  gathering 
the  harvest.  Whereas  there  were  only  11  husbands  listed  as  mill  workers 
we  find  29  mothers  so  engaged.  This  indicates  that  several  women,  after 
having  been  deprived  of  their  husbands,  consider  mill  work  better 
adapted  to  their  needs  than  some  of  the  other  occupations. 


Occupation  No.  of  mothers 

Farming 51 

Cotton  Mill  28 

Sewing  25 

Boarding  House   S 

Washing 8 

One  each  of  the  following : 
Bookkeeper 

Cotton  Mill  and  Boarding  House 
Farming  and  Caretaker 
Farming  and  Worker  in  Laundry 


Occupation  No.  of  mothers 

Washing  and  Farming 6 

Washing  and  Sewing 3 

Sewing   and   Farming 3 

Washing  and  Ironing 2 

Clerk 2 


Film  Inspector 
Makes  Baskets 
Makes  Berry  Crates 
Merchant 


Total  of  144  out  of  206  mothers. 


Occut)aut\ons    of   Mothers 


;? 


52  Handbook  on  Mothers'  Aid 

N.  Occupations  of  Children  IJf  Years  and  Over: 

Of  tlie  130  children  over  14,  occupations  of  60  were  definitely  listed. 
The  status  of  22  others  Avas  also  given;  35  of  the  remaining  48  were  of 
rural  families — 11  from  towns,  and  2  from  cities;  in  most  cases  they 
helped  at  home;  many  attend  school. 

Cotton  Mill  16  Odd  Jobs  3 

Farm  Work  9  Telephone  Girl  2 

Store  Clerks  6  Print  Shop 2 

Tobacco  Factory  5 

One  each  of  the  following : 

Army  Navy 

Construction  Company  Newspaper  Office 

Dairy  Railroad  Work 

Furniture  Factory  Sawmill 

Hauls  Wood  Shuttle  Factory 

Janitor  at   School  Teacher 

liumber  Company  Training  for  Nurse 

Mica  Company  Waitress 
Movie  House 

Total  of  60  out  of  130  children 

Children  over  14  married 18 

Children  over  14  in  orphanages 2 

Children  over  14  feeble-minded 1 

Children  over  14  invalid 1 

0.  Rooms  and  Beds  Per  House: 

Since  the  average  number  of  children  under  14  per  family  is  3.9,  the 
fact  that  the  average  number  of  rooms  per  house  is  also  3.9  seems  to 
indicate  that  on  the  whole  the  housing  situation  among  our  Mothers' 
Aid  families  is  not  as  poor  as  might  be  expected. 

Rooms  per  house — 

For  202  houses  (4  cases  not  listed)  total  number  rooms....  790 

Average  number  of  rooms  per  house 3.9 

Range — 1  to  8  (one  boarding  house  contained  10  rooms) 

Beds  per  house — 

For  199  houses  (7  cases  not  listed)  total  number  beds 691 

Average  number  of  beds  per  house 3.5 

Range — 1  to  7  (one  boarding  house  contained  13  beds) 

P.  Home  Ownership: 

Sixty  of  the  mothers  own  their  homes ;  many  of  these  homes,  however, 
are  mortgaged  and  practically  all  of  them  are  of  small  valuation.  In 
most  of  these  cases  encouragement  has  been  given  to  retain  ownership 
since  the  landed  family  tendsi  to  greater  stability  than  the  landless. 

Families  owning  homes 60 

Families  not  owning  homes 146 


State  Board  of  Charities  and  Public  Welfare  53 


Q.  Sources  of.  Previous  Aid  for  These  206  Families: 

Tlie  important  part  tliat  relatives  tave  played  in  assisting  these 
families  before  Mothers'  Aid  has  been  granted  is  seen  in  the  list  below. 
Under  the  heading  County  is  included  assistance  given  by  County  De- 
partments of  Public  Welfare  in  addition  to  County  funds  for  the  poor, 
etc.  The  4  cases  listed  under  Thomasville  Orphanage  Aid  were  trans- 
ferred to  the  State  plan  of  Mothers'  Aid;  in  this  connection  the  State 
Director  has  had  occasion  to  recommend  several  other  cases  to  Thomas- 
ville. Besides  the  2  cases  listed  under  Sale  of  Land  many  mothers  were 
forced  to  sell  furniture  and  other  household  equipment.  The  sale  of 
crops  and  other  produce,  the  earnings  of  children  over  14,  and  the  wages 
of  some  of  the  mothers  have  of  course  been  important  items  in  the  sup- 
port of  these  families  prior  to  the  granting  of  Mothers'  Aid. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  agencies  with  the  number  of  families  assisted 
by  each : 


Relatives 131 

Friends  and  Neighbors 78 

Churches  49 

County  46 

Insurance    20 

Red  Cross  9 

Associated  Charities 8 


Husband's  Employer  5 

Thomasville  Orphanage  Aid 4 

Kiwanis  2 

K.  K.  K 2 

Junior  Order  2 

Odd  Fellows  2 

King's  Daughters  2 


Masons  6      Sale  of  Land. 


One  each  of  the  following 
Cash  left  by  husband 
City 

Husband's  bondsmen 
Elks 


Man  who  accidentally  killed  husband 

Merchant 

Newspaper 

Organization  not  named 


54  Handbook  on  Mothers'  Aid 

Red  Men  School 

Rotary  Teacher 

Salvation  Army  Woodmen 

In  20  out  of  tlie  206  cases  no  previous  aid  or  assistance  v^as  listed. 
One  hundred  eighty-six  cases  had  received  previous  assistance. 

Let  it  not  be  supposed,  however,  that  all  these  agencies  have  ceased 
their  active  interest  upon  the  arrival  of  Mothers'  Aid.  On  the  contrary, 
the  supervision  which  is  part  of  the  duty  of  those  administering  Mothers' 
Aid  has  in  a  great  many  .cases  awakened  a  keener  sense  of  responsibility 
on  the  part  of  these  individuals  and  organizations  for  the  mothers  and 
children  who  have  now  become  recognized  assets  of  the  State. 

R.  Length  of  Time  Between  Date  of  Application  hy  Mothers  in  Counties 
and  Date  of  Approval  hy  8iate: 

At  the  outset  there  was  necessarily  a  good  deal  of  delay  between  the 
time  the  mother  made  application  and  the  final  approval  of  the  State. 
Our  county  superintendents  of  public  welfare  were  unfamiliar  with  the 
prescribed  procedure  and  a  considerable  number  of  applications  received 
by  the  State  Director  liad  to  be  returned  for  further  information.  Also, 
since  the  county  commissioners  and  the  county  boards  of  public  welfare 
meet  regularly  only  once  a  month,  applications  often  are  held  up  to 
await  action  from  these  bodies.  Because  the  State  Director  has  had 
the  field  work,  and  the  ofiice  work  as  well,  cases  have  sometimes  had 
to  wait  attention  until  her  return  from  county  trips.  With  more  com- 
plete cooperation  between  county  and  State  and  a  more  general  knowl- 
edge of  how  Mothers'  Aid  may  be  secured  it  is  felt  that  the  average 
length  of  time  of  2  months  as  listed  below  can  be  cut  in  half. 

Length  of  time                                                                         No.  of  cases 
Less  than  one  week 5 

1  to  2  weeks 6 

2  to  3  weeks 20 

3  weeks  to  1  month 18 

1  month  to  l^/^  months 42 

1%  months  to  2       months 33 

2  months  to  21/2  months 23 

2y2  months  to  3      months 21 

3  months  to  3%  months 13 

SVq  months  to  4      months 6 

4  months  to  4%  months 4 

4%  months  to  5      months 7 

5  months  to  5%  months 1 

5%  months  to  6      months 3 

6  months  to  7      months 1 

7  months  to  8      months 2 

8  months  to  9      months 1 

Total  families  206 

Average  length  of  time  slightly  over  2  months. 


State  Board  of  Charities  and  Public  Welfare  55 

S.  Jui^emle  Cotirt  Records: 

The  higli  character  of  the  families  being  reached  through  Mothers' 
Aid  is  indicated  by  the  fact  that  there  was  one  lone  juvenile  court  record 
among  all  the  children  of  the  206  families.  In  this  case  a  boy  had  been 
placed  on  probation  and  at  last  reports  was  doing  well. 

T.  Physical  Exarmndtions: 

Physical  examinations  had  been  given  in  63  families  out  of  the  206. 
In  most  cases  all  the  members  of  these  63  families  were  examined. 
Many  other  Mothers'  Aid  families  have  since  had  physical  examinations 
as  a  part  of  the  supervision  given. 

U.  Illiteracy: 

Twenty-four  mothers  were  unable  to  write,  but  in  every  one  of  these 
cases  it  was  obvious  that  the  intelligence  and  capability  of  these  women 
qualified  them  as  being  competent  to  care  for  their  children.  "Without 
exception  they  are  all  particularly  anxious  for  their  children  to  secure 
educational  advantages  of  which  they  themselves  were  unfortunately 
deprived. 

Y.  Others  in  Household: 

In  77  out  of  the  206  families  there  were  others  besides  the  mother  and 
children  living  in  the  same  house.  Many  of  these  77  mothers  had  been 
taken  into  homes  of  relatives  after  the  husbands  died,  others  were  board- 
ing relatives  or  outsiders,  and  a  few  lived  in  two-family  houses. 

W.  Previous  Marriages  of  Mothers: 

Only  8  mothers  had  been  married  twice: 

X.  Amounts  of  Aid  Granted: 

The  following  figures  are  for  total  amounts  (half  from  State  and 
half  from  county)  : 

Total  of  $3,944.44  per  month  for  206  cases. 
Average  amount  per  month  per  case,  $19.15. 

Amount  per  month  No.  of  cases 

$10  30 

15  47 

20  67 

25 19 

30  20 

35  4 

40 4 

Odd  amounts  averaging  $14.96 15 


56 


Handbook  on  Mothers'  Aid 


Number    of  Cases 

.  ^1 0  v///////////.z<^y//////////A 

1  ^^w////mm/Mi//m//m/M/A 


vmMMMMMM2MmMMMm 


I  %     30 


11 


35  E3 

40  K 


y.  Canceilation  of  Cases: 

The  first  Mothers'  Aid  case  was  approved  by  the  State  Director 
August  1,  1923.  On  August  15,  1924,  there  were  191  cases  in  active 
operation,  15  having  been  canceled  for  the  following  reasons: 

Married    5 

Moved  out  of  North  Carolina 2 

Moved  out  of  county 1 

Immorality    2 

Mother  self-supporting  1 

Disabled  husband  supporting  family 1 

Deserting  husband   returned 1 

Government  pension  granted 1 

Thomasville  Orphanage  aid  granted 1 


Z.  Distribution  by  Counties: 
County  No.  of  cases 

Alamance  4 

Alexander   2 

Alleghany    1 

Anson  4 

Beaufort    6 

Bertie  1 

Bladen   4 

Brunswick  2 

Buncombe   11 

Cabarrus  2 

Catawba    2 

Chatham   B 

Cherokee   2 

Chowan    1 

Columbus    5 

Cumberland    3 

Dare  1 

Davidson  9 

Duplin    3 


County  No.  of  cases 

Edgecombe    5 

Forsyth    15 

Franklin    5 

Gaston   3 

Graham   2 

Granville  4 

Guilford  7 

Halifax    1 

Harnett   •. 2 

Henderson  3 

Iredell    8 

Johnston    8 

Lee 1 

McDowell    3 

Macon  3 

Madison  2 

Mecklenburg  8 

Nash  1 

New  Hanover  4 


State  Boaed  of  Charities  and  Public  Welfare  57 

County  No.  of  cases  County  No.  of  cases 

Orange 4  Stanly 4 

Pasquotank  2  Surry   5 

Pender  2  Swain  1 

Pitt  3  Union   3 

Richmond    - 3  Vance  1 

Robeson 7  Wake 7 

Rockingham   3  Wayne  4 

Rowan   3  Wilson   1 

Scotland  2 

Total  of  55  counties  represented. 

CLIPPINGS  FROM  LETTERS  OF  MOTHERS 

"Many,  many  thanks  for  the  cheek  received  recently.     Am  oh  so  grateful." 


"Without  Mothers'  Aid  checks  I  could  not  keep  my  children  with  me,  but 
would  be  compelled  to  give  them  up.  I  am  trying  earnestly  to  teach  them  to 
be  Christians,  and  to  love  the  State  that  is  doing  so  much  for  them.  I  will  be 
glad  of  any  advice  you  can  give  us — especially  on  nourishing  foods  for  the 
children. 

"May  God  bless  all  the  noble  ones  who  have  made  this  possible  for  us." 


"Novella  said  tell  you  she  had  been  trying  to  drink  milk,  and  they  say  they 
want  you  to  come  again.  They  will  start  school  Monday.  Well,  you  may 
know  I  am  appreciating  your  work,  for  it  certainly  helps  me." 


"We  are  all  three  so  thankful  to  our  county  and  our  State  and  will  try  to 
prove  this  by  living  right.  Earle  often  adds  to  his  prayer,  'God  bless  the 
Mothers'  Aid.'  " 


"That  Mother  Goose  Health  Book  you  sent  sure  is  fine.     I  can't  read  myself, 
but  May  has  read  it  to  all  of.  us." 


"I  have  received  all  the  nice  books  and  papers  and  we  do  appreciate  them 
all.     Our  crops  are  looking  good.     Hurry  and  come  back  to  see  us.'" 


"I  want  the  Mothers'  Aid  Director  to  know  how  thankful  I  am  of  what  they 
are  doing  for  me.  and  I  also  feel  so  glad  that  this  is  for  all  the  needy  mothers 
with  small  children." 


"I  will  write  you  a  few  lines  and  send  you  the  account  of  what  I  have  spent 
and  tell  you  we  are  getting  along  very  well.  All  the  children  are  going  to 
school  and  learning  fast." 


"I  sure  do  thank  you  for  the  kindness  which  3^ou  have  turned  to  me.     The 
children  all  beg  to  be  remembered  to  you." 


58  Handbook  on  Mothers'  Aid 

"When  I  began  to  get  help  I  was  in  debt  and  now  I  am  able  to  settle  all 
my  debts  and  think  I  will  be  able  to  clothe  the  children  and  start  them  In 
school  very  soon.  If  it  had  not  of  been  for  the  help  I  don't  know  what  I 
would  of  done.  I  appreciate  it  so  much.  I  want  to  give  you  my  thanks  for 
you  good  people  that  is  working  for  us." 


The  State  Director  has  been  making  kodak  pictures  of  the  Mothers'  Aid 
families.  One  of  these  pictures  is  so  attractive  and  so  typical  that  it  was 
decided  to  use  the  picture  for  the  little  questionnaire  bulletin,  if  the  mother 
agreed.  She  replied :  "I  received  your  letter  today.  I  would  rather  you 
would  not  use  our  picture.  As  I  am  not  much  of  a  public  woman  I  don't 
care  to  have  my  picture  in  public." 

This  spirit  is  typical  of  the  mothers  receiving  aid. 


One   little  girl  writes :     "I   am   glad  for  mama  to   get  this  help  for  us.'* 
'We  have  been  to  town  and  had  our  teeth  fixed." 


A  mother  M^rites  her  county  superintendent :  "I  received  my  December 
Mothers'  Aid  check  this  evening  and  thank  you  for  same.  We  are  getting 
along  very  well  at  the  present,  the  children  are  in  school." 


"You  know  you  told  me  you  didn't  give  the  Mothers'  Aid  to  those  who  stay 
away  from  their  children.  It  sure  did  please  me  to  hear  that,  for  I  don't 
want  to  stay  away  from  mine.  You  see,  I  wasn't  getting  the  Mothers'  Aid. 
If  I  had  been  I  would  have  been  with  my  children." 


APPENDIX 

SUPERINTENDENT'S   LIBRARY   FOR  MOTHERS'    AID 

Social  Diagnosis  (Mary  E.  Richmond) — Russell  Sage  Foundation. 

What  is  Social  Case  Work  (Mary  E.  Richmond) — Russell  Sage  Foundation. 

The  Delinquent  Child  and  the  Home  (Breckenridge  &  Abbott) — Russell  Sage 
Foundation. 

Social  Case  History  (Ada  E.  Sheffield) — Russell  Sage  Foundation. 

Broken  Homes  (Colcord) — Russell  Sage  Foundation. 

The  Family  and  Social  Case  Work  (Edward  T.  Devine) — The  Survey. 

Child  Training  (Angelo  Patri) — The  Survey. 

The  Child's  Unconscious  Mind  (Lay) — The  Survey. 

Youth  in  Conflict  (Van  Waters) — The  Survey. 

Successful  Family  Life  (Abel) — Lippencott. 

What  Men  Live  By  (Cabot) — Houghton  Mifflin. 

When  Fathers  Drop  Out — Society  for  Improving  Condition  of  the  Poor,  New 
York. 

Standard  of  Care  for  Children  in  Their  Own  Homes — U.  S.  Department  of 
Agriculture,  Washington,  D.  C. 

Bulletins  on  Living  Conditions  and  Family  Living  in  Farm  Homes  of  Various 
States — U.  S.  Department  of  Agriculture,  Washington,  D.  C. 

Manual  of  Mothers'  Assistance  Fund— State  Department  of  Welfare,  Harris- 
burg.  Pa. 

Rural  Standards  of  Living — N.  C.  A.  and  E.  College,  Raleigh,  N.  C. 

BULLETINS  FOR  MOTHERS 

At  Raleigh,  N.  C. 

State  Forester Dept.  of  Conservation  and  Development. 

Bulletins Child  Welfare  Commission. 

Poultry  Raising  Bulletin N.  C.  Agricultural  Department. 

Gardening  Bulletin N.  C.  Agricultural  Department. 

Household  Bulletin N.  C.  Agricultural  Department. 

Health  Bulletin N.  C.  State  Board  of  Health. 

Bulletin    447   (Bees) , U.  S.  Department  of  Agriculture. 

Bulletin    961   (Modern  Hives) U.  S.  Department  of  Agriculture. 

Bulletin    653   (Honey) U.  S.  Department  of  Agriculture. 

Bulletin  1409   (Turkey  Raising) U.  S.  Department  of  Agriculture. 

School  of  Applied  Arts Battle  Creek,  Michigan. 

Woman's  Institute  of  Domestic 

Arts  and  Sciences Scranton,  Pennsylvania. 

Franklin  Institute Rochester,  N.  Y. 

Homekraft  Studio :  Weaving No.  50  Barrow  Street,  New  York. 

Miscellaneous  Bulletins Metropolitan  Life  Ins.  Co.,  N.  Y. 

Bulletin  on  Bulbs U.  S.  Experiment  Station,  Willards,  N.  C. 


X.    CHILD  LABOR  LAWS 


5032.  Employment  of  children  under  fourteen  regulated.  No  child 
under  the  age  of  fourteen  years  shall  be  employed  or  permitted  to  work,  in  or 
about  or  in  connection  with  any  mill,  factory,  cannery,  workshop,  or  manu- 
facturing establishment.  No  child  under  the  age  of  fourteen  years  shall  be 
employed,  or  permitted  to  work,  in  or  about  or  in  connection  with  any  laundry, 
bakery,  mercantile  establishment,  office,  hotel,  restaurant,  barber  shop,  boot- 
black stand,  public  stable,  garage,  place  of  amusement,  brick  yard,  lumber  yard, 
or  any  messenger  or  delivery  service,  public  works,  or  any  form  of  street 
trades,  except  in  cases  and  under  regulations  prescribed  by  the  Commission 
herein  created,  provided  the  employments  in  this  section  enumerated  shall  not 
be  construed  to  include  bona  fide  boys'  and  girls'  canning  clubs  recognized 
by  the  Agricultural  Department  of  this  State,  or  vocational  training  classes 
authorized  by  the  State  Board  of  Education,  and  such  canning  clubs  and 
vocational  classes  are  hereby  expressly  exempted  from  the  provisions  of  this 
article. 

5033.  Prohibited  employments  of  children  under  sixteen.  No  perSon 
under  sixteen  years  of  age  shall  be  employed,  or  permitted  to  work,  at  night 
in  any  of  the  places  or  occupations  referred  to  in  the  first  preceding  section, 
between  the  hours  of  nine  p.m.  and  six  a.m.,  and  no  person  under  sixteen 
years  of  age  shall  be  employed  or  permitted  to  work  in  or  about  or  in  con- 
nection with  any  quarry  or  mine,  nor  shall  any  child  under  the  age  of  sixteen 
years  be  employed,  except  in  cases  and  under  regulations  prescribed  by  the 
Commission  herein  created,  when  (1)  such  child  has  symptoms  of  disease 
contributory  to  retardation  or  disability;  or  (2)  when  determined  by  physical 
examination  that  employment  of  such  child  is  injurious  to  its  health;  or  (3) 
employed  when  surrounding  conditions  are  injurious  to  its  morals;  or  (4) 
employed  when  dangerous  employment  hazards  are  present. 

50  34.  Age  certificates.  No  child  under  the  age  of  sixteen  years  shall 
be  employed  in  any  of  the  ways  enumerated  in  this  act  unless  at  the  time  of 
such  employment  the  employer  shall  in  good  faith  procure,  rely  upon  and 
place  on  file,  a  certificate  issued  in  such  form  and  under  such  conditions  and 
by  such  persons  as  the  said  Commission  herein  provided  for  shall  prescribe, 
showing  that  the  person  is  of  legal  age  for  such  employment,  and  the  laws 
and  rules  made  by  the  State  Child  Welfare  Commission  under  authority  of 
this  act  have  been  complied  with.  The  possession  of  such  certificate  by  an 
employer  shall  be  prima  facie  evidence  that  he  has  complied  with  the  require- 
ments and  obligations  of  this  act  when  employing  such  child.  No  person  shall 
knowingly  make  a  false  statement  or  present  false  evidence  in  or  in  relation 
to  any  such  certificate  or  application  therefor  or  cause  any  false  statement 
to  be  made  which  may  result  in  the  issuance  of  an  improper  certificate  of 
employment. 

LIMIT  OP  HOURS — MINORS,  WOMEN,  ADULTS 

(Consolidated   Statutes,    Section    6554) 

6554.  Week's  work  to  be  sixty  hours.  Sixty  hours  shall  constitute  a 
week's  work  in  all  factories  and  manufacturing  establishments  of  the  State, 
and  no  minor  nor  woman  shall  be  worked  in  such  factory  or  establishment 
a  longer  period  than  sixty  hours  in  one  week,  and  no  adult  male  shall  be 
worked  in  such  factory  or  establishment  for  a  longer  period  than  sixty  hours 
in  one  week  unless  there  shall  be  a  written  contract  entered  into  between 
said  adult  male  and  his  employer  to  that  efeect  in  which  the  employer  shall 


62  Handbook  on  Mothers'  Aid 

agree  to  pay  said  adult  male  extra  compensation  for  extra  hours  he  may  work. 
No  employee  in  any  factory  or  manufacturing  establishment  in  this  State 
shall  be  worked  exceeding  eleven  hours  in  any  one  day :  Provided,  this  section 
shall  not  apply  to  engineers,  firemen,  superintendents,  overseers,  section  and 
yard  hands,  office  men,  watchmen,  or  repairers  of  breakdowns. 
1915,  c.  148,  s.  2. 

[Public  Laws  1919] 

CHAPTER  100 

AN  ACT  TO  PROVIDE  FOR  THE  COMPULSORY  ATTENDANCE  UPON 
THE  PUBLIC  SCHOOLS  OF  CHILDREN  BETWEEN  CERTAIN  AGES, 
AND  TO  REGULATE  AND  RESTRICT  THE  EMPLOYMENT  OF  CHIL- 
DREN, AND  TO  PROVIDE  FOR  THE  ENFORCEMENT  OF  THE  PRO- 
VISIONS OF  THIS  ACT  AND  OF  CHAPTER  83,  PUBLIC  LAWS  OF  1913, 
AND  CHAPTER  857,  PUBLIC  LAWS  OF  1909. 

The  General  Assembly  of  North  Carolina  do  enact: 

Section  1.  Every  parent,  guardian,  or  other  person  in  the  State  of  North 
Carolina  having  charge  or  control  of  a  child  between  the  ages  of  eight  and 
fourteen  years  shall  cause  such  child  to  attend  school  continuously  for  a 
period  equal  to  the  time  which  the  public  school  in  the  district  in  which  the 
child  resides  shall  be  in  session.  The  principal,  superintendent,  or  teacher  who 
is  in  charge  of  such  school  shall  have  the  right  to  excuse  the  child  from 
temporary  attendance  on  account  of  sickness  or  distance  of  residence  from  the 
school,  or  other  unavoidable  cause  which  does  not  constitute  truancy  as  defined 
by  the  State  Board  of  Education. 

Sec.  2.  Any  parent,  guardian,  or  other  person  referred  to  in  section  one  of 
this  act,  violating  the  provisions  of  the  aforesaid  section,  shall  be  guilty  of  a 
misdemeanor,  and  upon  conviction  shall  be  liable  to  a  fine  of  not  less  than 
five  dollars  ($5),  nor  more  than  twenty-five  dollars  ($25),  and  upon  failure 
or  refusal  to  pay  such  fine,  the  said  parent,  guardian,  or  other  person  shall  be 
imprisoned  not  exceeding  thirty  days  in  the  county  jail. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  N.C.  AT  CHAPEL  HILL 


00043601628 

FOR  USE  ONLY  IN 
THE  NORTH  CAROLINA  COLLECTION 


•\^^: 


